SAN FRANCISCO, July 15, 2008 -- Ebates.com, the pioneer of online cash back shopping, today announced Kevin H. Johnson as the new CEO of the company, taking over for founder and former CEO Alessandro Isolani. Johnson has more than ten years of e-commerce management experience with a particular focus on responsible e-mail marketing, search engine optimization and website personalization. He was most recently president and general manager of Acxiom Digital, a division of Acxiom Corporation and a leading provider of integrated digital marketing solutions for Global 2000 enterprises, as well as a top 25 interactive agency. At Ebates.com, Johnson will bring renewed focus on company growth and customer value.
"Ebates.com has grown from an affiliate marketing start-up into the largest online cash back shopping portal with nearly $1 billion in purchases made via Ebates.com," said Johnson, CEO of Ebates.com. "We are proud to have reached a total of six million members, nearly 1000 retail partners, and to have given over $30 million back to our shoppers. I am excited to help the Ebates.com team continue to improve the online shopping experience for our members and create even greater value for our retail partners."
Ebates.com invented the online cash back shopping portal concept when it launched in 1999. Ebates.com enables customers to save money and earn cash back by shopping online for anything from apparel, shoes and electronics to travel packages, baby supplies and high end luxury goods. Ebates.com offers shoppers an average of five percent cash back on each purchase and even up to 25 percent at some stores. Members can join for free and shop at a discount at nearly 1,000 name-brand retailers, including Buy.com, Drugstore.com, FTD.com, Ice.com, Lands' End(R), Macy's, priceline.com, RitzCamera.com and Sears. Through Ebates.com, shoppers can receive thousands of dollars a year in exclusive discounts and cash back incentives on common items they already purchase, with no points or miles to redeem and no rebate forms to submit.
"We are pleased to bring a CEO of Kevin Johnson's caliber on board," said Alessandro Isolani, founder and former CEO of Ebates.com. "In addition to his extensive management experience, he will be able to provide the direct marketing discipline critical to Ebates.com's continued success. I am personally excited to work with Kevin and the rest of the Ebates.com team in taking the company's performance to the next level."
Investor and board member Eric Young of Canaan Partners added, "During the past year we have steadily added senior management talent to the pioneering Ebates.com team with impressive results. Kevin has the proven leadership experience to help the team drive new levels of customer satisfaction, member loyalty, retail partner benefits and financial growth."
Prior to his management position at Acxiom Digital, Johnson led client services and managed the email marketing division at Netcentives, a leading provider of loyalty marketing technology and services. Johnson also co-founded and served as CEO of Passporta.com, an e-commerce business providing hard-to- find local specialties from around the world. Johnson also worked across the globe with the Boston Consulting Group, providing strategic and operating expertise to leading multinational companies in North America, China, Japan, Thailand, and Europe.
