GSI Commerce Names Patrick Vogt as EVP and Head of General & Specialty Business and Robert Blyskal as Company President
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Aug. 15, 2005 – GSI Commerce Inc. (Nasdaq: GSIC) today announced it has named Patrick Vogt to the position of executive vice president of GSI Commerce, an executive officer of the company. Vogt will head the company’s general and specialty organization, which includes all of the company’s non-sporting goods partners, and will report to Robert Blyskal, the company’s president and chief operating officer.
Vogt has more than 18 years experience managing, marketing, selling and providing strategic planning for the direct businesses of large consumer companies. Prior to joining GSI Commerce, Vogt served as the senior vice president and senior general manager for Sony Corporation of America’s Sony eSolutions Company LLC where he managed Sony’s direct business for all Sony products across all customer segments. He transformed the culture of the company through an increase in systemic use of business intelligence, metrics, and a clear focus on the customer. He had profit and loss responsibilities for the company and was responsible for Sony’s e-business and customer contact platforms in all distribution channels. He also led the company’s annual direct marketing efforts for all media including the Web. Prior to his position with Sony, Vogt spent two years as a vice president with the Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) where he managed sales, marketing, operations and Web development for HP’s Americas eBusiness Group. While at HP, he also served as the general manager for the company’s Software and Peripherals Group where he managed the group’s global aftermarket business. Vogt also worked for Dell Computer Corporation between 1999 and 2001 where he was the general manager of aftermarket sales group and head of Dell Online. Prior to Dell, Vogt was at Sony Electronics Inc. in San Jose, Calif., and in Park Ridge, N.J., where he started Sony’s direct and Internet business and worked in various executive sales, marketing and product management positions. Vogt earned a master’s of business administration degree in marketing from Iona College and holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Vogt is married with four children.
“We welcome Patrick to our management team. Patrick’s domestic and international sales and marketing experience with large, consumer-direct businesses combined with his proven business and management skills gives us additional leadership to strengthen and help deliver on the GSI Commerce value proposition, which is to grow our partners’ e-commerce businesses faster and more profitably than they could on their own,” said Robert Blyskal, president and chief operating officer of GSI Commerce.
“Joining GSI Commerce presents a very exciting opportunity, particularly as the company continues to grow quickly through the addition of new partners and through its emphasis on expanding the e-commerce businesses of its existing partners,” said Vogt. “I look forward to contributing my management and leadership skills and experience to the effort as the company looks to take its strategic planning and business management services to a higher level, which in turn will help our partners become even more successful at growing their e-commerce businesses.”
In a related move, GSI Commerce also announced that Michael Rubin will no longer share the President role with Robert Blyskal. Blyskal was hired in May 2004 as the company’s co-president and COO. Blyskal will now be president and chief operating officer (COO). Blyskal will continue to report to Rubin, chairman and chief executive officer of GSI Commerce. Blyskal will continue to oversee the general and specialty and sports business management groups, the technology and information services group, the operations group, the newly added international group and the partner services organization.
“During the last year, Bob has proven to be a tremendous management and leadership asset to our organization,” said Rubin. “The company’s performance during the last 12 months has given me the confidence to further solidify Bob’s role.”
“This is a great organization, and we have constructed a solid foundation on which we continue to build a bright future,” said Blyskal. “I am excited that I will have the opportunity as company president to continue to use my experience and be a part of the team leading this company to its next level of performance.”
About GSI Commerce
GSI Commerce is a leading provider of e-commerce solutions that enable retailers, branded manufacturers, entertainment companies and professional sports organizations to operate e-commerce businesses. We provide solutions for our partners through our integrated e-commerce platform, which is comprised of three components: core technology, supporting infrastructure and partner services. We either operate, or will operate pursuant to signed agreements, all or portions of the e-commerce businesses for approximately 50 partners.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements made in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are or will be forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “guidance,” “potential,” “continue,” “project,” “forecast,” “confident,” “prospects,” and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business of GSI Commerce and the industries and markets in which GSI Commerce operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors which may affect GSI Commerce’s business, financial condition and operating results include the effects of changes in the economy, the impact of FASB 123(R), consumer spending, the financial markets and the industries in which GSI Commerce and its partners operate, changes affecting the Internet and e-commerce, the ability of GSI Commerce to develop and maintain relationships with strategic partners and suppliers and the timing of its establishment, extension or termination of its relationships with strategic partners, the ability of GSI Commerce to timely and successfully develop, maintain and protect its technology and product and service offerings and execute operationally, the ability of GSI Commerce to attract and retain qualified personnel, the ability of GSI Commerce to successfully integrate its acquisitions of other businesses, if any, and the performance of acquired businesses. More information about potential factors that could affect GSI Commerce can be found in its most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports and statements filed by GSI Commerce with the SEC. GSI Commerce expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise specifically stated by GSI Commerce.
Contact:
Greg Ryan
Director, GSI Commerce Corporate Communication
tel: 610-491-7294
fax: 610-265-2866
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