ATLANTA, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Interactive Media (CIM), the largest
provider of comprehensive local content on the Internet, has added Paul
Higgitt as director of business development. Higgitt is a respected veteran
of the new media environment and brings considerable high-tech, media,
financial, operational and business development experience to CIM.
In his new role, Higgitt will be responsible for strategic planning and
alliances for CIM, including joint ventures, partnerships and investment
opportunities. All negotiations regarding any licensing or distribution
arrangements will also be part of his new responsibilities. Well prepared for
that role, he served in similar capacities as a consultant for McKinsey &
Company and senior vice president for both Time Warner International
Broadcasting and Tokai Bank, Ltd.
With a law degree from Oxford University, England, and strong experience
with major international law firms in London and New York, Higgitt provides
both a legal and business perspective in his new role.
Higgitt sees alliance-building and partnership development as a key
component in the establishment of successful brands on the Internet. "Very
few companies in our business are putting together deals of any size. We are
going to change that. We want to raise the level of sophistication. We want
a new focus for discussion about the future of the Internet," said Higgitt.
"We have all the financial resources we need. I fully expect to announce
significant deals with major Internet players very soon. I am currently
evaluating investment opportunities and I am continuing to search for more!"
His work spans numerous industries including telecommunications, video
telephony, cellular and satellite compression technologies, HDTV, software
development and bio-tech development.
"We are very fortunate to have someone of Paul's caliber leading business
development," said Peter Winter, president of CIM. "As a result, we expect to
make a giant leap forward with the number and the quality of partnerships that
we form. We anticipate that his role will strengthen CIM's position as a
leading Web content provider."
CIM is the nation's largest provider of comprehensive local content on the
Internet, surpassing every traditional media company and online provider. In
the past year, the Atlanta-based company has experienced explosive growth,
going from a two-person shop to employing more than 225 people. By mid-1998
it will employ 400 people. CIM produces the nation's largest, most extensive
and fastest growing network of city and specialty Web sites, CIMnet(TM). To
date, CIMnet includes 14 city sites and six specialty Web sites.
CIM's role in creating local content sites also extends to its alliance
with @Home, providers of cable access to the Internet. Cox Communications,
the broadband communications subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., is one of
several investors in @Home. Through this unique alliance, CIM is positioning
itself for delivery of Internet services to users by both broadband and
narrowband. Cox@Home sites are currently operational in Phoenix, Ariz.;
Orange County, Calif. and San Diego, Calif. SanDiegoInsider.com
(http://www.sandiegoinsider.com) is the first Cox@Home site to launch with dual
access -- Internet users and @Home subscribers can both access the site.
Cox Interactive Media, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., is
headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. A leading media company, Cox Enterprises
includes Cox Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers, direct mail marketing, book
publishing), Cox Broadcasting, Inc. (TV, spot sales, television production,
research, publicly-traded Cox Radio, Inc.) and publicly traded Cox
Communications, Inc. (cable distribution, programming, broadband
communications) in addition to Cox Interactive Media. The company is also the
world's largest operator of automobile auctions through Manheim Auctions,
providing financial services, government auctions, online services and price
guides.
SOURCE Cox Interactive Media
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.cimedia.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/pub/pd/pdz?f=PRN/prnphotos&grid=2
or NewsCom,
CONTACT:
Marleen Burford, Cox Interactive Media,
404-572-1830, email: marleen.burford@cimedia.com, or Paula Smith
or Fonda A. Berosini, Duffey Communications, 404-266-2600, or
email: paulas@duffey.com or pmoody@duffey.com
|
