CAREERS MEDIA: XS-Media targets top professionals in bid to be No.1 portal

<p>When Mr Paul McNeill and Ms Julie Harrison decided to set up a </p><p>one-stop Asia-Pacific portal (www.xs-media.com) for advertising </p><p>agencies, media buying companies and media owners to buy and sell media </p><p>space online, they knew that for XS-Media to succeed, it needed the </p><p>greatest resource of all - brainpower. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"The industry is very closely-knit," said Mr McNeill. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"When Julie and I decided to start XS-Media, we immediately knew who are </p><p>the people with the drive and the entrepreneurial spirit which we must </p><p>approach in order for the company to succeed. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We are glad that we have got them on board. They are definitely the </p><p>greatest assets of XS-Media." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>XS-Media was soft-launched last November, and already has operations in </p><p>Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Key staff at the company also include CFO Ian Folkes, chief content </p><p>officer Ward Edmonds, Hong Kong GM Winnie Tam Bolande, New Zealand GM </p><p>Scott MacDonnell, sales director Andy Barton, business development </p><p>director Justine Moss, marketing director Szeto Kuan Yee, client service </p><p>director Eric Tam, research director Helen Pemberton and client services </p><p>director Canny Teo. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mr Cameron Knight, MD of Australia and New Zealand said: "Online </p><p>transacting will very quickly become the norm for the buying and selling </p><p>of media inventory. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"XS-Media is at the forefront, due mainly to the calibre of (its </p><p>staff). </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Great people are associated with XS-Media because they believe in the </p><p>idea and believe that we collectively are really able to make a </p><p>difference." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In slightly more than a month of its soft launch, XS-Media has signed on </p><p>more than one thousand members. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>According to Ms Harrison, the immediate plans are to sign up a </p><p>significant number of advertising and media members. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Our portal went fully online in January, and by the end of 2001, we are </p><p>confident that XS-Media will become an important part of the advertising </p><p>and media industry." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>XS-Media aims to set up the largest network in buying and selling </p><p>advertising space in Asia-Pacific through its Internet portal, as well </p><p>as its regional offices in key Asian countries. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The Internet portal will contain the most comprehensive depository of </p><p>advertising space information of all key countries in Asia-Pacific, </p><p>including rate cards, contact numbers, mechanical specifications, </p><p>etcetera. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Media buyers and sellers will be able to transact advertising space </p><p>online, thereby crossing geographical boundaries and streamlining </p><p>processes. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Additionally, the latest in-depth research - across markets and across </p><p>media - will be available to users of the site. XS-Media will provide </p><p>opportunities for greater interaction within the industry - with news, </p><p>chat rooms, events listings, streaming video and so on. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>According to Zenith Media, the advertising industry in Asia-Pacific was </p><p>worth USdollars 60 billion in 2000, and is expected to grow six per cent </p><p>per year. By 2003, the Asia-Pacific region will generate about USdollars </p><p>70 billion worth of advertising dollars. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Last month, I had a senior advertising director who came up to me and </p><p>asked me why didn't I approach him to join XS-Media," said Mr </p><p>McNeill. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"It was then that I knew that the industry regards XS-Media as a first </p><p>rate team of media professionals. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"It is only going to get better from here on." </p><p><BR><BR> </p>