Incubator Success Story Appoints New CEO

DataCol Press Release

Incubator Success Story Appoints New CEO

20 July 2005. - New Zealand technology innovator DataCol today announced the appointment of Jason Rogers as its new group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as part of the company's expansion plans.

Existing managing director and founder Grant Thomson is assuming a new role of Executive Chairman.

"Our business has grown rapidly over the last three years," said Thomson, "and we have developed intellectual property and capability that will help us grow in several new market areas."

Mr Thomson said several new fully-owned subsidiaries were being formed under the DataCol group to focus on these different market opportunities.

A member of the Deloitte/Unlimited Fast 50 growth index for the last three years, DataCol provides meter reading services for 50% of the New Zealand electricity market.

"We needed to strengthen our structure to cope with growth and to add management skills complementary to my own.

"There are plenty of examples where companies have struggled because the entrepreneur founder has not bought in management expertise when it is needed - I didn't want to make that mistake."

DataCol's new CEO Jason Rogers has a background in private company management, as well as private equity and investment banking, in New Zealand, Australia and Europe. Jason is a former director of corporate finance with Sir John Beckwiths Private Investment Coy in the United Kingdom. He is currently Chairman of Auckland security company Matrix Security Group, and holds directorships with Whakaue Holdings and Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands.

ABOUT DATACOL INTERNATIONAL

Headquartered in Christchurch and with offices in Auckland and Wellington, DataCol provides technology and services to utility companies. Formed in 2001, the company has featured in the Deloitte NZ's Fast50 and Deloitte's Asia Pacific Technology Fast500 indexes. DataCol is privately held and has 280 staff.

ENDS

www.datacolinternational.com