Business & Decision Extends its Borders

In order to move closer to its historical margin levels, Business & Decision is positioning itself as a “Specialist Consultancy” Group in North America. Already a major player in the Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and e-Business in Europe, the Business & Decision Group is expanding its ERP and Business Intelligence activities into North America with the creation of Business & Decision North America.

“We have been waiting for an appropriate time to expand the Group into North America and we are confident that we have found a management team who can recreate the successful model that Business & Decision has already established in Europe. It is important that this new venture demonstrates profitability with significant sales revenues in as early as the first year”, explained Patrick Bensabat, Chairman, Business & Decision.

Fabrice Amari & Ludovic Hernio, both Directors of ERP for Business & Decision Europe, initiated the company’s expansion overseas in July 2005 and it was because of their efforts that Business & Decision North America was made possible.

Developing a Local Presence

The numerous E-Business and Business Intelligence projects that have already been implemented by the Business & Decision Group in North America, also demonstrate the relevance of the Group’s business model in this territory.

With the launch of two North American establishments in Montreal (Canada) and Chicago (United States) in September 2005, Business & Decision North America already counts amongst its customers many corporations from the electronics and aeronautical industry as well as large corporations from the Fortune 500.

Business & Decision North America Management Team

The management team of Business & Decision North America today is made up of Sylvain Thauvette, Richard Lacombe and Mark Laliberté.

Named as the Head of Business & Decision North America, Sylvain Thauvette will be in charge of implementing the Business & Decision model into Canada and the United States, and recreating the success already experienced in Europe.

A graduate of HEC Montreal and with 15 years solid industry experience, Sylvain Thauvette joins Business & Decision North America from the multinational corporation Flextronics, where for the last 5 years he has held the post of General Director, Enterprise Solutions. Prior to Flextronics, Thauvette gained experience in the Silicon Valley region of California. Thauvette and his team will utilise their experience and knowledge of the North American market and also their offshore expertise; notably in India and Northern Asia.

“I was looking for a corporation that reflected my social and commercial values, and I found that with Business & Decision. Our objectives are to develop the North American market and demonstrate profit in a very short timeframe; a challenge that we will meet with success”, commented Sylvain Thauvette, President of Business & Decision North America.

Business & Decision North America’s first milestone was achieved in October, with the recruitment of 10 ERP consultants. By the end of November 2005 this will have increased to 20 consultants, and should increase further to 30 consultants by the end of the year.

About Business & Decision:

Business & Decision specialises in providing solutions and related consultancy in Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management, E-Business and Management Consulting. Founded in 1992 and listed on the Euronext Paris (ISIN code FR 00000 7895 8 / BND), the Group has a reputation for its functional and technological expertise and has forged partnerships with the all of key technology vendors. Business & Decision currently employs over 1,100 consultants throughout the United Kingdom, France, Benelux, Switzerland and Spain and has implemented over 2,100 projects at 1,150 client sites including the NHS, Scottish Widows, Barclaycard, HBOS plc, AXA, Unilever, Aviva, MBNA, Orange and Allianz Group. For more information, visit http://www.businessdecision.co.uk.