Executive Suite: FileNET Announces New Senior Vice President of Global Professional Services Business; David Despard to Lead Company's Efforts to Strengthen Global Education and Services Offerings

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, July 6, 1998

FileNET Corp. has announced that effective July 6, 1998, David D. Despard will join the company as senior vice president of its recently formed global professional services business. In his new position, Despard will manage all of FileNET's services initiatives designed to assist its customers in more rapidly building and implementing integrated document management software solutions. Despard's mission will be to work alongside FileNET's Industry Marketing team and ValueNET partners to provide "total solutions."

"Dave brings over 20 years of technology experience to this position and will help us continue to be a worldwide leader in integrated document management. This new position is another step in FileNET's increased focus on providing our customers with 'whole solutions' that incorporate best-of-class products, processes, support and services," said Lee Roberts, president and CEO of FileNET. "We are going to significantly increase our focus on building a global services business that is complimentary to what our partners offer, and we are confident Dave will be a catalyst for this growth. We believe there is a substantial growth opportunity here and that in providing this incremental capability we will further meet the needs of our customers."

Despard, 42, who has more than 20 years of experience in sales, services and solutions delivery at several companies including International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. and Wall Data Inc., will report directly to Roberts.

Despard has extensive international experience in the customer support arena. At Wall Data, he was responsible for developing professional services strategies on a worldwide basis, as well as managing technical support, systems engineering, service delivery systems, corporate quality assurance and customer satisfaction.

Prior to Wall Data, Despard served as vice president and western United States area general manager for Technology Service Solutions Corp. (TSS), a national service provider he co-founded in 1993. Dave helped take TSS from a fledgling business to one that was generating in excess of US$750 million a year in revenues. He also spent 13 years with IBM, where his last position was corporate director of services, western United States.

Despard has a bachelor of science degree in computer science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is a member of the Association for Service Managers International, and he is a board member for United Way of America and the Idaho State Economic Development Council.

FileNET Corp. (www.filenet.com) is a proven leader in delivering integrated document management (IDM) software to unleash the power of information for corporate and government organizations. FileNET's Internet and client/server solutions provide standards-based workflow, document imaging, electronic document management and report management (COLD) software for managing information and enhancing productivity. Costa Mesa, Calif.-based FileNET markets its innovative products in more than 60 countries through a global FileNET sales, services and support organization, including its ValueNET partner program of resellers, system integrators and application developers.