Rick Friedman, President of SIGS Conferences and SIGS Europe, Leaves 101communications to Pursue New Opportunities; Charles Shively and Jane Major Expand Responsibilities.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 1999--

101communications LLC Monday announced that Rick Friedman, the president of its SIGS conference and ISGS Europe operations, has decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities.

SIGS Publications was purchased by 101communications last spring from Friedman, who founded the magazine and conference group in 1988.

The SIGS operation is international, with more than 150,000 readers in 60-plus countries, and more than 20,000 IT professionals as conference attendees to such events as SIGS Conference for Java Development, Component Development Europe, Object Expo, XML One, Component Development and C++ World in the United States, as well as Application Development 2000 in the United Kingdom and OOP 2000 in Germany.

The SIGS U.S. conference division staff will now report to Charles P. Shively, 101's Software Technology Group publisher.

European operations, including the Application Development Advisor, ObjektSpektrum and JavaSpektrum magazines as well as OOP 2000, the largest independent developer show in Europe, and XML One Europe and the U.K. SIGS Conference for Java Development, will continue under the direction of 101's European general manager, Jane Major.

Shively and Major both report to Jeffrey S. Klein, 101's president.

"We purchased the SIGS properties last spring," noted Klein, "because we believed that it was a top-notch, high-growth enterprise, one that 101 could expand and build upon. We are sorry to see Rick leave, but understand his desire to continue his entrepreneurial ways and develop new business ventures.

"Fortunately, 101 has superb, experienced executive talent in Charlie Shively and Jane Major, who can take over for Rick without missing a beat."

"The conferences and foreign publications are in capable hands and should continue to grow," said Friedman. "I take pride in having worked with a host of great editors and staffers who have helped stimulate and pioneer several leading software technologies, such as object technology, C++, component development, Java, XML and Web development, over the past decade.

"Through our magazines, seminars, conferences and books, we all have made a significant contribution to the evolution of how software systems are built -- on a worldwide basis."

101communications, founded in late 1998, acquires and operates specialized media that target digital professionals and the IT vendors that market to them. 101 is backed by Frontenac Co., a prominent private equity firm with more than $750 million under management.

101's portfolio now includes the following magazines and conferences: Application Development Trends, Java Report, C++ Report, JOOP, ObjektSpektrum, JavaSpektrum, Syllabus, Recharger, ENT, Enterprise Systems Journal, Unisphere, Distributed Computing, HP Professional, Midrange Systems, Platform Decisions, the Syllabus Conference, Recharger WorldExpo Conference and the SIGS Conferences -- OOP, Smalltalk Solutions, Object Expo, XML One Conferences, Component Development Conferences, Application Development, Conference for Java Development and C++ World.