Effective November 1, 2004, Ed Shartar will become the Chief Executive Officer of Conferon Global Services. Ed joins CGS from The Coca-Cola Company, where he was President and CEO of Coca-Cola Ltd., based in Toronto, Canada. As leader of the Canadian subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, Ed and his team were responsible for managing all the company’s business in Canada.

Ed has an extensive background in sales and marketing, business development, and corporate finance. Prior to his role in Canada, he was Managing Director of the United Field Sales and Marketing Group, Coca-Cola USA, based in Atlanta. Before joining The Coca Cola Company in 1991, Ed had a successful career at Citibank N.A., where he had served in senior transactor roles in both the USA and UK.

As part of its growth plan, CGS has also decided to dedicate executive leadership to the task of developing and commercializing next-generation service offerings for the benefit of its clients. Bob Lucke, currently President of the ExpoExchange Division, will be moving to a new position as Executive Vice President of Business Development for all of CGS.  With his deep understanding of CGS’s markets and technology value proposition, Bob is uniquely qualified to help the Company continue its leadership in developing innovative service solutions.

With Bob’s new assignment, Dave Lutz, currently President of Conferon, will become President of both the ExpoExchange and Conferon Divisions.  Dave brings strong industry, operational and P&L management experience to ExpoExchange, and will focus on growing both businesses as preferred service providers to their clients while also building and developing the management teams at both divisions. 

To support Dave’s new responsibilities, Brad Weaber, currently Vice President Mid-Atlantic Region for Conferon, will be promoted to Senior Vice President. He will support the seven Conferon Regional Vice Presidents as well as the Client Services department. 

David Gordon, interim CEO of CGS commented, “These changes will allow CGS to grow aggressively in its core markets and the addition of Ed Shartar as CEO will provide the leadership, strategic guidance and brand development expertise critical at this stage of the company’s development.”

Bruce Harris, President of Conferon Global Services added, “CGS prides itself in being the leader in its marketplace, with an innovative portfolio of products and services.  The recent introductions of SmartEvent and Reg.net technologies, for example, are new initiatives that will further separate us from our competition.

This restructuring will ensure that we have the long-term resources and leadership to develop and maintain our position as the market leader with product and service innovation being the key to that growth.” 

More about Ed Shartar – New CEO of Conferon Global Services, Inc.

Prior to his role in Canada, Ed was Managing Director of the United Field Sales and Marketing Group, Coca-Cola USA, based in Atlanta. He has held increasingly senior positions with The Coca-Cola Company as International Treasury Services Manager for Europe, and Vice-President and Executive Assistant to the President, European Community Group. When he returned to the US business, Ed was Director of Business Development for Coca-Cola USA, responsible for expanding such key brands as Sprite, Barqs and Minute Maid Flavors across the US and Canada.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola in 1991, Ed was Vice-President and Director, Structured Finance Division, Citibank, N.A., based in London, England, and Vice President and Senior Banker, Citibank, N.A., based in Atlanta, Georgia.  He has an MBA from Harvard University and a BA in Economics from Emory University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. Ed is married, has four sons and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.