Oui for Covisint
Another major automaker has hitched its wagon to Covisint. The giant automotive exchange spearheaded by DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor and General Motors announced that French automaker Peugeot Citroën has decided to join the initiative and will take out an equity stake. The size of the investment was not disclosed.
Consultants Consolidate
Consolidation continues in the Internet consulting space, with two Southern agencies agreeing to merge. Impressa, an Atlanta consultancy that specializes in small and midsize business, says it has agreed to merge with Renaissance Interactive, also based in Atlanta. Microsoft recently selected Impressa to develop and provide custom-made Web sites through the Microsoft bCentral small-business portal.
New CEO For Asera
Asera, which has won several deals in recent months to build and operate electronic exchanges, announced that it has hired a high-profile executive from IBMs Tivoli Systems as its new CEO. David Murphy, who was president of the Tivoli unit, will take over the reins at Asera in Belmont, Calif., replacing Warren Weiss. Weiss will remain on the companys board and plans to continue to advise the company.
Thinq, Navy Do E-Learning
Thinq Learning Solutions has secured a big contract to provide Internet-based training to the U.S. Navy. Terms of the contract were not released, but Thinq will operate and power an e-learning portal for the Navy that could serve as many as 1.2 million students. The portal will be operated on behalf of the Chief of Naval Education and Training and will be open to active sailors, retirees, reservists and Navy family members.
