Greenfield Pioneer Joins Online Education Firm

Just a week after the return of Robert Knapp to the MR scene, Dean Wiltse, former CEO of Greenfield Online, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of online consumer education company Powered. Both men left on the back of disappointing results at their online firms last year, albeit with very different histories.

Wiltse was replaced as Greenfield CEO in September by troubleshooter Albert Angrisani, a former colleague of Knapp's at Harris Interactive.

At Powered, Wiltse will provide strategic advice based on his more than 30 years of technology leadership. Powered seeks to replace traditional, unsolicited media with online courses and programs to increase sales, deliver significant ROI and build brand loyalty.

According to Wiltse, '2006 is shaping up to be a break out year for Powered and consumer education online. More research is showing that consumers are increasingly averse to traditional forms of marketing and advertising. At the same time, marketers are increasingly under the gun for quantifiable results. Leaders like iVillage, HP and Sony are demonstrating the value of online courses in driving sales and loyalty. I'm thrilled to assist Powered in the next phase of growth as more companies embrace educational marketing for sales success.'

At Greenfield, Wiltse helped pioneer the use of Internet surveys as a primary marketing research methodology. He led the company through a period of rapid growth and was named a finalist for Research Magazine's CEO of the Year in 2005, as well as an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2005, shortly before the firm's sudden announcement of problems.

Prior to Greenfield, he was President of the software division at Engage, Inc. He has also held senior management positions at Avid and Vivo Software, which was sold to Real Networks in 1998.

Dave Ellett, Chairman and CEO of Powered, says the company is 'honored to have someone of Dean's stature and expertise join our board. His deep experience and thought leadership will be an important asset as we move forward in evangelizing online consumer education and accelerating the adoption of this highly successful marketing offering for companies and publishers of all sizes.'

Austin-based Powered, Inc. is online at www.powered.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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