corProcure CEO appointed
The board of corProcure, the procurement hub touted as Australia's largest horizontal e-market place, has appointed Len Ward as chief executive officer.
Ward was previously the COO of New Zealand's Global Ecomex, a B2B exchange for the timber industry, and has held chief executive positions for New Zealand's Pacific Energy, Australian Stock Exchange Derivatives and New Zealand Futures and Options Exchange. His MBA at New Zealand's Massey University included the publishing of a research report into automated trading systems. He replaces interim CEO Cameron Moroney, who has managed the startup process of the organisation since its inception in August.
Members of corProcure include Amcor, AMP, ANZ, Australia Post, BHP, Coca-Cola Amatil, Coles Myer, Foster's, Goodman Fielder, Orica, Pacific Dunlop, Qantas, Telstra and Wesfarmers.
Austrade links to Europe for B2B trade
The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) has signed an agreement with similar trade promotion organisations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland to develop an international portal to link the nations' B2B marketplaces. The portal will be a searchable database of e-markets designed to encourage small businesses to find channel opportunities across the other side of the world. The site will be launched in December.
Although at present the portal will only include the Nordic nations and Australia, the Norwegian Trade Council's vice president Jon Stromberg suggested expressions of interest have been received from similar trade organisations from around the globe, including Mexico and Singapore. Subsequently, the project may expand to include more parties as early as next year.
Tequinox CEO quits
Chris Poelma, the man ASP Tequinox hired to give the company an international presence, has resigned as chief executive and managing director. Tequinox, formerly a Mincom division called Mincom ITS, delivers applications to the mining, transport, manufacturing, utilities and Government sectors and hired Poelma in July to run the company.
While no official reason has been given for Poelma's departure, sources from Tequinox suggest it may be the result of the company's decision not to list publicly. It was Poelma's vision to take the ASP to a public offering, preferably on the Nasdaq, a plan that was recently thwarted due to the volatile nature of the technology stock market.
No indications have been given as to Poelma's next venture, or when his replacement will be found. Tequinox has appointed Allen Vaughn, a vice president from parent company Mincom, as an interim manager.
