Growing an International Business Requires Dedicated Focus, According to Tim Sullivan, MyFamily.com CEO

Sullivan offered insight to executives at Utah Technology Council event

OREM, UTAH – October 10, 2006– Expanding into global markets requires a dedicated focus, according to Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of MyFamily.com. It’s a true start-up venture Sullivan maintains. Sullivan shared his many strategies for international expansion with area executives at the Utah Technology Council (UTC) event at the Canyon Park Technology Center recently.

Speaking from his prior experience at Match.com and The Disney Company as well as from his current experience at MyFamily.com, Sullivan made the following recommendations:

Consider each international effort as start-up venture, in which you are creating a new business where nothing existed before. Approach each new area one country at a time. Even within the various regions, each country will have a distinct culture of its own that needs to be carefully considered. Choose a star player to head each country’s effort. Have that individual then select their number two and number three hires. The lead person should have a “shadow” who knows everything the star player is doing. When that market is going well, the “shadow” can use the experience gained as a model to lead the opening up of a new country. Business development and sales/marketing, together with a knowledge of the culture, are the most essential skills for the star player. Will also need to fill a “Super HR” role.A company’s new international operation should run separately from the domestic office. As these groups mature and the new divisions become solid, it may then make sense to absorb their operation back into the corporate office. The structure is dynamic and can change as needed. A company should use trusted ex patriots to observe the new operation and the way the company and the product are being received in the new culture. These advisors can help ensure that the company’s philosophy and integrity to both the product and the new region are being maintained. Remember that a global company is the sum of many parts and that a successful international company is comprised of multiple successful individual ventures.

As president and CEO of MyFamily.com, Mr. Sullivan is responsible for the direction, overall financial performance and operational functions of MyFamily, the leading online network connecting families, present and past. Prior to MyFamily, Sullivan was the chief executive officer for Match.com, a leading online dating service and an operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp. Sullivan also served as vice president of e-commerce for Ticketmaster Online-Citysearch, Inc. Prior to Ticketmaster, he spent seven years at The Disney Company, as vice president and managing director for Buena Vista Home Entertainment Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for all Home Video distribution of Walt Disney company products in the Asia Pacific Region. Mr. Sullivan is a graduate of Harvard Business School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For more information about UTC and about upcoming events, readers can visit www.utahtechcouncil.org.

About Utah Technology Council

As the premier professional organization for over 3,900 Utah technology companies, the Utah Technology Council (UTC) exists to form closer relationships with industry and community leaders, develop superior management talent, sharpen professional skills and help gain access to capital. For more information on UTC, please visit www.utahtechcouncil.org.

About Canyon Park Technology Center

TCU Properties, established in 2000, created the Canyon Park Technology Center (the former Word Perfect / Novell campus, 1501 North Technology Way, Bldg L, Orem) as a premier destination for technology companies and data centers in Utah. Located in the heart of "Software Valley" along the Wasatch Front, Canyon Park offers an unprecedented set of on-site amenities, a dramatic and beautiful park-like setting, competitive rates, and access to a well-educated work force. Canyon Park currently houses 90 companies with 8,300 full and part-time employees in Utah County. For more information on Canyon Park Technology Center, please visit www.canyonparkutah.com.

Agency Contact
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T) 801 208- 1100

UTC:
Judy Young
T) 801.568.3500

| 10/10/2006 3:38:54 PM | 0 Comments