Global Sports Inc. Announces New Board Member
GLOBAL SPORTS, INC. (NASDAQ: GSPT), a leading developer and operator of e-commerce sporting goods businesses, announced today that Ronald D. Fisher has been named to its Board of Directors, expanding the total number of directors to six, including five outside members.
Mr. Fisher is Vice Chairman of SOFTBANK Corp., Japan, a leading provider of information and technology services for the digital information industry. Mr. Fisher is also Chief Executive Officer of SOFTBANK Global Ventures, which oversees all private equity organizations of SOFTBANK Corp., and Managing General Partner of SOFTBANK Capital Partners, an Internet venture investment group established in July 1999 and sponsored by SOFTBANK Corp.
Commenting on the appointment of Mr. Fisher, Michael G. Rubin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Sports, Inc., stated, “I am excited to welcome Ron as our newest board member. His experience in Internet management and leadership is unparalleled. I’m looking forward to working with him as we strive to capitalize on our business model.”
Prior to joining SOFTBANK, Mr. Fisher was Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Technologies, Ltd., a developer and marketer of system software products for personal computers. Mr. Fisher joined Phoenix from Interactive Systems Corporation, a UNIX software company that was purchased by the Eastman Kodak Company in 1988. He served for five and a half years as President, initially as Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fisher’s experience prior to Interactive Systems included senior executive positions at Visicorp, TRW and ICL (USA).
Mr. Fisher serves on the board of several SOFTBANK Capital Partners’ companies, including OptiMark Technologies (http://www.optimark.com) and PeoplePC (http://www.peoplepc.com). Mr. Fisher also serves on the boards of the following public companies: SOFTBANK Corp., Japan (Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section (Symbol: 9984)), InsWeb Corporation (NASDAQ: INSW) and Ziff Davis Publishing (NYSE: ZD).
Mr. Fisher received a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Witwatersand, South Africa.
Mr. Fisher said, “I’m delighted to be joining Global’s Board of Directors. Global’s innovative business model well positions them to become the leading enabler for sporting goods e-commerce. I’m excited to be part of such a dynamic company.”
Global Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSPT) (http://www.globalsports.com) is a leading developer and operator of e-commerce sporting goods businesses. The company’s current partners include BlueLight.com (http://www.BlueLightSports.com) (Kmart’s (NYSE: KM) exclusive e-Commerce solution), Dunham’s Sports (http://www.DunhamsSports.com), Healtheon/WebMD (http://store.WebMD.com), MC Sports (http://www.MCSports.com), Oshman’s Sporting Goods (http://www.Oshmans.com), Sport Chalet (http://www.SportChalet.com), The Athlete’s Foot (http://www.TheAthletesFoot.com), and The Sports Authority (http://www.TheSportsAuthority.com).
Contact:
Media Contact:
Dana Stein Grosser
Director of Corporate Communications
Global Sports, Inc.
(610) 491-7000
grosserd@globalsports.com
Investor Contact:
Michael R. Conn
Senior Vice President Business Development
Global Sports, Inc.
(610) 491-7000
connm@globalsports.com
