CourseSmart Expands Executive Team to Increase Institutional and Distribution Partnerships and Establish a Global Presence

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CourseSmart™, the world's largest provider of eTextbooks and digital course materials, today announced two executive appointments to support the company's rapid growth in North America as well as its new commitment to develop global expansion plans. Shannon Meadows has been appointed senior vice president of business development and Fionnuala Duggan has been named Managing Director, International.

With more than two decades of experience in the education technology industry, Shannon will lead the Business Development team to define market strategies and operational opportunities that will make CourseSmart successful in meeting its institutional and distribution partnership goals.

Fionnuala will utilize her nearly 20 years of digital media expertise and proven track record of developing and achieving international expansion to lead the development and launch of CourseSmart's global eTextbook platform and digital course material offering.

"We're confident that Shannon and Fionnuala will be tremendous assets to the growing CourseSmart team. Their collective, extensive experience will prove instrumental as we continue to innovate across the globe and ensure digital course materials are accessible to all students and faculty on all devices," said Sean Devine, CEO of CourseSmart.

Previously, Shannon was vice president of sales operations at Blackboard, a role in which she was responsible for leading the integration of two complex acquisitions into Blackboard's mainstream selling capabilities. Prior to her position at Blackboard, she served as the business development leader at NTI, successfully developing and executing a strategy for taking NTI, an early stage start-up, into the higher education space, NTI is now known as BlackBoard Connect™.

"Shannon is a proven leader with a track record of success. Her skills, experience and ambition align perfectly with CourseSmart's goal to continue breaking new ground in the digital delivery of course materials," Devine added.

Prior to joining CourseSmart, Fionnuala served as The Random House Group Ltd's Director of Digital where she led the company's digital activities in the UK and globally, launching businesses for ebooks, audio and Web, as well as further developing the digital business infrastructure to support future goals and expansion plans. Previously, she was a partner at Impresario Media LLP, a consultancy firm which provides strategic advice to multinational media and publishing clients. She also served in various executive roles at EMI Recorded Music, Macmillan Publishers Ltd, and Maxwell Multi Media, among others.

"Fionnuala has an outstanding track record of achieving and exceeding global expansion goals with a number of digital media companies. She is well-equipped to develop our international agenda and ensure our commitment to and vision for the future of digital course materials is accomplished across the globe," said Devine.

About CourseSmart™

CourseSmart™ provides eTextbooks and digital course materials that improve the higher education learning process by offering instructors and students a unique combination of the right course materials and anywhere, any-time access, all at a low cost. As the world's largest digital course materials supplier, CourseSmart has a rapidly growing digital library of more than 90% of core higher education textbooks offered as eTextbooks, the same titles produced by major publishers in print and recommended by faculty. The company's eTextbooks can be purchased for up to 60% less than print texts and offer users the ability to print what they need as well as search and copy and paste features which help to streamline students' studies. Additional information can be found on the company's Web site at www.coursesmart.com.

CourseSmart™ is a trademark of CourseSmart, LLC. All other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Gabrielle Zucker
Kwittken & Company
(646) 747-7143
[email protected]

SOURCE CourseSmart