Management Veteran
has Proven Track Record Delivering Technology Products and Services
to Businesses and Consumers
Mountain View, CA, August 1, 2001 - VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:
VRSN), the leading provider of Internet trust services, today announced
it has appointed W.G. Champion Mitchell as executive vice president
and general manager of the Mass Markets Division.
Mitchell, formerly the chairman of the board and
CEO for Convergence Equipment Company and Global Exchange Carrier Company,
joins VeriSign to extend the company’s leadership in delivering products
and services to small and medium enterprises as well as to consumers
looking to build a secure presence on the Internet.
Mitchell will oversee the Mass Markets Division,
based in Northern Virginia, that includes domain name registration services,
web server certificate services, country code and secondary market domain
name registration services and value-added services unit. He will also
oversee the B2C payment services and applied trust services units.
"What attracted VeriSign to Champ was his experience,
his passion to deliver Internet-based products and services to businesses
and consumers and his drive to be an innovation leader," said Stratton
Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign. "Champ's background as
a CEO, corporate consultant and member of federal policy boards will
serve VeriSign well as we work towards our goal of creating a trusted
digital environment where everyone, whether a business or consumer,
can use the Internet to its fullest potential."
"It’s not everyday that you can step into a
company that will shape the future of the Internet and that is why I
am delighted to join VeriSign," said Mitchell. "For businesses
and consumers, the first step in leveraging the Internet is establishing
a secure web identity and presence, and I look forward to using my background
to make that experience positive and fruitful from the first day they
select a domain name and then as they expand their Internet use and
presence."
Besides his leadership of Convergence and Global
Exchange, Mitchell serves on the board of directors of a group of emerging
technology companies. He has also served in management or advisory capacities
for True North Communications, IBM, Grand Bahama International Teleport
Ltd and RJR Nabisco. He was also a partner in the law firm of Howrey
& Simon. He has served on trade advisory boards under President
George Bush and President Bill Clinton.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRSN) is the leading provider of trusted infrastructure
services to Web sites, enterprises, electronic commerce service providers
and individuals. The Company's domain name, digital certificate and
payment services provide the critical web identity, authentication and
transaction infrastructure that online businesses require to conduct
secure e-commerce and communications. VeriSign's services are available
through its Web site (www.verisign.com) or through its direct sales
force and reseller partners around the world.
###
Statements in this announcement other than
historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results
to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking
statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others,
VeriSign's limited operating history under its current business structure,
uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations
in quarterly operating results, increased competition, risks associated
with the company's international business and risks related to potential
security breaches. More information about potential factors that could
affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 and quaterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2001. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release.
VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign,
Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact Media Relations: Tom Galvin, tgalvin@verisign.com,
+1-650/426-5526
Investor Relations: Katie Ochsner, kochsner@verisign.com,
650-426-3512
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