cybermeals,
the online meal ordering
system, named former Comcast and Disney exec Richard Frank as the new
chairman, president and CEO of the two-year-old Internet start-up.
He succeeds interim CEO Bill Jesse, who will remain as a member of the board.
Frank also made a “significant financial investment in cybermeals,” the
company said.
Frank was most recently chairman and CEO of Comcast Content and Communication
(C3), a company he founded in 1995 with television/telecommunications giant
Comcast Corp. Prior to his position at C3, Frank served as chairman of Walt
Disney Television and Telecommunications (1994 to 1995) and as president of
The Walt Disney Studios (1985 to 1994). From 1977 to 1985, he served as both
vice president and president of the Paramount Television Group of Paramount
Pictures.
cybermeals said Frank’s “move from a foremost position in the entertainment
industry to one in the fast-paced Internet commerce and food arena is another
strong indication that e-commerce is not merely a trend, but a dominant
industry segment attracting the attention and talent of top players.”
cybermeals was founded in 1996 and currently is available in major markets
nationwide. The service gives Internet users the ability to locate restaurants
in their own neighborhoods and order meals online as far as three months in
advance. cybermeals said it has relationships with tens of thousands of
restaurants
across the country.
“In the rapidly-expanding world of Internet commerce, cybermeals is a dynamic
young company with unlimited market opportunity. Based on recent industry
estimates, the potential market for online food delivery is five times larger
than that of the book and music industries. Leading the charge is a challenge
I couldn’t pass up and I am delighted to have the chance to build on the
initial success of the cybermeals team,” said Frank.
“Rich Frank is a proven leader with more than 25 years of senior management
experience at major consumer-oriented corporations. We are very excited to
have him on board, both as chairman and as a major investor,” said Jesse.
“We immediately recognized Rich’s talent for enhancing and building strong
brands and his unusual ability to foster environments that generate products
with enduring consumer appeal. His proven track record as a strong operational
manager and business builder makes him a valuable asset to cybermeals.”
