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Ciao Changes Guard, Splits Businesses
The two MDs of Ciao, Max Cartellieri and Gunnar Piening, have resigned and will be replaced by Nicolas Metzke. Ciao's parent company, Greenfield Online, Inc. also announced that it will begin the formal separation of Ciao's two main businesses, Internet survey and comparison shopping operations.
Albert Angrisani, President and CEO of Greenfield Online, who was appointed to turn the company around last year after disappointing results, said the separation decision was consistent with the financial separation already initiated. 'We expect the process will be completed over the next six to nine months and believe it will help facilitate the growth of each business.'
Concerning the management changes, Angrisani said he respected the decisions of the two, and thanked them for 'all their many accomplishments which built Ciao into the successful business it is today'. He added: 'Continuity at Ciao is maintained through the appointment of Nicolas Metzke as Managing Director of Ciao. As a member of Ciao's original management team, Nicolas brings outstanding industry experience and a strong understanding of the Ciao business to his new role as Managing Director'.
Cartellieri co-founded Ciao in 1999 and - following its acquisition by Greenfield Online, Inc. in April 2005 - had served as the company's Executive VP of Corporate Development, and an observer on Greenfield's Board of Directors. Piening joined in 2000 and served recently as Senior VP European and Asian Sales and Operations.
Metzke, whose appointment as MD was effective yesterday, has also been with Ciao since 2000. His role will be to lead Ciao as a whole through the separation process and then to take charge of the Internet survey business.
On his reasons for leaving, Cartellieri comments: 'Seven years after co-founding Ciao in 1999 with Fred Paul, it was time to hand over the baton to the capable and experienced management team that Ciao is fortunate to have attracted over the past few years. Greenfield Online's decision to separate the two Ciao segments has accelerated this process by lessening the need to oversee the combined historic Ciao business. I am immensely proud of everything that we accomplished at Ciao, and I'm confident that a bright future lies ahead for both business units under Nicolas' seasoned leadership.'
According to Piening, 'I am looking back at more than six highly rewarding years at Ciao, and I'm proud of having been part of the Ciao success story. Both business units are healthy and profitable, and I believe the team in place will continue to deliver. At the same time, the decision to separate the Ciao businesses marks the beginning of a new era for Ciao, and I felt this was a good point in time for me to close this chapter and to pursue new entrepreneurial opportunities.'
Leadership of the comparison shopping business is expected to be given eventually to Stephan Musikant, current VP of Sales & Marketing and Daniel Keller, VP of Technology & Operations, according to Angrisani, who commended their work for the business over the past several months.
Greenfield Online is headquartered in Wilton, CT, USA and is online at www.Greenfield.com . Ciao's home page is at www.ciao-group.com .
[Photograph of Nicolas Metzke]
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