London, U.K. — 1 May 2001 — Speakers Include Accenture, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, IBM Global Services, Microsoft, The Global Future Forum, and Cranfield School of Management's Graham Clark

ITSMA Europe, a trusted advisor on services marketing in the technology industry, which launched its European operation last month, will host its inaugural forum and workshop in Kensington London, UK, on 20 - 21 June 2001. The two-day event is will provide a unique opportunity to hear valuable insights and recommendations from senior marketing professionals and leading educators. Managers from Accenture, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, IBM Global Services, Microsoft, and Global Future Forum will discuss designed to help marketing professionals stay current on such issues including as, launching a global brand in Europe, solutions marketing strategies, managing and marketing the customer experience and how to make web marketing more successful.

The first day, entitled 'Marketing Technology Services in the New Millennium", is a forum which will feature case study presentations from six European senior services marketing executives representing a variety of prominent firms and sectors of the technology and communications industries. They will provide forward looking presentations to discuss their experiences and best practices in services marketing, branding and sales strategies for this increasingly important sector within the European market.

As well as benefiting from peer networking and interactive discussions, participants will learn how to continue increasing the value and the long-term revenue stream of client relationships by examining how the best performing technology services organisations develop and deliver value within the competitive and complex European marketplace. The agenda is as follows:

• 'Welcome and Opening Remarks - Marketing in the New Millennium' - Dave Munn, President and CEO, ITSMA

• 'Launching a Global Brand in Europe' - Charles Doyle, Global Director of Marketing and Communications, Accenture

• 'Total Customer Experiences at Hewlett Packard' - Rob Biggin, Marketing Director, Hewlett Packard Europe

• 'The Web Marketing Journey ' - Robert Pearce, Director of Marketing, IBM Global Services EMEA

• 'Driving Thought Leadership Marketing' - Christine Carroll, CEO, Global Future Forum

• 'Marketing Services for Rapid Growth in a Downturn Market ' - Paul Collinge, VP, Marketing & Strategic Business Development, Ericsson

• 'Balancing a Direct / Indirect Services Model with Enterprise Customers' - Sara Sheppard, Enterprise Services Marketing Group Manager, Microsoft

• Wrap up Discussion & Closing Remarks - Steve Hurley, VP, Learning and Performance Excellence, ITSMA

On the second day, Graham Clark, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at the UK's Cranfield School of Management, will host a workshop based on the theme of 'Managing and Marketing the Customer Experience'. This intensive workshop will keep the customers perspective at front-of-mind as it explores the importance of service delivery within the service strategy and as the key to successful service marketing. Participants will learn how to ensure that a chosen target group of customers perceives superior value from an offering and how to uncover customers' needs and translate them into viable services programmes. Service marketers will also learn how to build integrative processes with sales teams to turn customer client experiences into high revenue generating relationships.

Commenting on ITSMA Europe's first forum and workshop, Dave Munn, President and CEO, said:

"ITSMA is delighted to conduct its first forum and workshop for leading technology services marketers in Europe. The quality of speakers and the immediacy of topics being covered will be of tremendous interest to service marketers and should provide insights and contacts to help them improve their business performance.

The June 20-21 event will offer attendees a unique opportunity to hear a wide range of senior marketing professionals share some of their strategies and challenges of marketing technology services in today's turbulent marketplace. I am very much looking forward to meeting and discussing these strategies and challenges with Europe's leading services marketers."

Details on the event, its presenters and their presentations can be found in the event section of the ITSMA website. URL: http://www.itsma.com/events/event_desc/e06200101.htm

Notes to editors:
The two-day course will be held at Copthorne Tara, Scarsdale Place, Wrights Lane, Kensington, London.

About ITSMA
ITSMA specializes in helping companies market and sell services and solutions more effectively. As a membership organization, we work with the world's leading technology, communications, and professional services providers to generate increased demand, strengthen customer relationships, and improve brand differentiation. ITSMA members include business leaders such as Accenture, BT, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, and Tata Consultancy Services, among others. Our comprehensive research, consulting, and training on topics including ITSMA Account-Based Marketing ^SM, Brand Positioning, and Solutions Development provide the insight and experience companies need to improve business results. ITSMA is based near Boston, and has offices in London and Tokyo. Learn more at www.itsma.com.