From: Steve Giannoni <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2014 at 11:11 AM

(Apologies for cross posting)

EBSCO Information Services<http://www.ebsco.com/> is opening
a second office in the United Kingdom and has hired a number of former
Swets employees to help customers transitioning to EBSCO as their
subscription agent.  EBSCO believes that this investment in
infrastructure and staffing will provide libraries with the confidence
to work with EBSCO during this critical renewals phase- and into the
future.

Since the news broke of difficulties at Swets several weeks ago,
EBSCO's office in the UK has been drawing-up plans to manage
subscription portfolios for customers of Swets looking to make
alternative arrangements.  With the announcement last Friday that the
Swets' staff in Abingdon have now been made redundant, many customers
will be looking for a safe and financially secure partner for their
journals.

Maintaining a high level of service and support is critical for EBSCO.
Given that the capacity to provide this service, and the necessary
experience to provide it well are going to be key requirements for any
library looking to move their subscriptions, EBSCO has been in
discussions with a number of former Swets staff with the aim of
opening-up a second office in the UK, located close to the old Swets'
offices.  Discussions have now concluded and a number of long-standing
and highly-experienced customer service including Emma Simlett, Angela
Watson and Jenny Veal have joined EBSCO.  Their combined experience of
subscriptions management is over 50 years.

In addition, John Jardine, for many years the public face of Swets in
the UK and Ireland, will be joining as a customer transitions
consultant.  Jardine says "It is incredibly important to me and my
customer service colleagues from Swets that we help our customers
transition to a secure and dependable alternative to Swets.  I believe
that EBSCO is in the best position to provide the level of transition
services needed, and I look forward to working with my existing and
new colleagues to achieve this."

EBSCO General Manager in the UK and Ireland, Paul Harwood, says, "This
is a great outcome for a difficult situation.  I am really thrilled
that we have been able to make this happen.  Continuity and experience
are key to first class service delivery in the complex world of
subscriptions, and to be able to work again with a number of
ex-colleagues who I know deliver the highest levels of service to
customers is a great opportunity for us,  and will hopefully offer
huge reassurance to customers opting to move to us."

For more information about transitioning to EBSCO please go to
http://journals.ebsco.com/.

Gareth Smith
Vice President Sales UK, Ireland & Nordic Region
EBSCO
New Barnet EN5 1NZ
Tel:+44 (0)208 447 4200
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www.ebscohost.com