Diligent commences operations in the Asia Pacific region

(PR.co.nz) Diligent Board Member Services Inc. (Diligent) is pleased to announce that it has commenced operations in the Asia Pacific region to meet the significant growth opportunities it sees for its easy-to-use and proven electronic Diligent Boardbooks product in the region.

Eslinda Hamzah will be spearheading the Asia Pacific operations as Managing Director of Diligent APAC Board Services PTE. Ltd., a wholly owned Singapore based subsidiary of Diligent Board Member Services, Inc (DIL). Ms. Hamzah comes from Turner International Asia Pacific where she was Senior Vice President of CNN Broadcast and Commercial Sales, Marketing & Affiliate Relations.

Over the last decade, Eslinda has been responsible for managing CNN’s broadcast affiliate relations and the syndication & business development of the network’s broadcast news services, as well as managing CNN’s and Turner International’s marketing strategy including brand management, sponsorship, corporate events and creative services across the Asia Pacific Region.

Diligent CEO and President Alex Sodi says the decision to expand into Asia follows months of due diligence. “We have for some time viewed the Asia region as having significant opportunities for us given the sophistication of many of the larger corporations there, particularly when it comes to technology and innovation. By establishing a subsidiary there, we plan to capitalize on what we expect will be a high-growth region for us.

“The key has been finding the right people. In Eslinda we have an experienced executive with the ability to leverage her already established network at the highest levels of business throughout the region. We are delighted that Eslinda is joining our organization.”

Diligent will support the establishment of the Asia Pacific region office with the appointment of William P. Adamopoulos and Linus Koh as the first members of an Advisory Board to Diligent and its Board of Directors.

Mr. Adamopoulos is the President and Publisher of Forbes Asia. He is responsible for Forbes Media LLC business interests in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, including Forbes Asia, local partnerships Forbes India, Forbes China, Forbes Korea and Forbes Indonesia, Forbes.com and the annual Forbes Global CEO Conference. Prior to establishing an Asian headquarters for Forbes in 1999, Adamopoulos was the Publisher and Managing Director of The Asian Wall Street Journal, and the President of Dow Jones Publishing Company (Asia). A 1984 graduate of Harvard College where he studied economics, Adamopoulos is based in Singapore.

Mr. Koh is Co-Chief Executive Officer of Saizen REIT, a real estate investment trust listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Prior to this, Mr. Koh served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Singapore Mercantile Exchange, Chief Financial Officer of SGX and Chief Operating Officer of Deutsche Bank Asia-Pacific. He has more than 25 years’ experience in investment banking and capital markets. He graduated with a MS degree in Management from MIT, and a BA (honors) in Economics from Sheffield University; and completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

Diligent Chairman David Liptak welcomes these Advisory Board members.

“Mr. Adamopoulos and Mr. Koh will greatly assist the Diligent Board of Directors and the Company with their extensive knowledge of the Asia Pacific business community as we move to build a strong presence in the Asia Pacific rim.”

“Business leaders across Asia are looking for innovative solutions to boost productivity across all levels of their operations. Diligent Boardbooks provides its clients with that opportunity.”

Media Release on January 6, 2011 from Diligent Board Member Services INC Ordinary Shares (DIL) via NZX.