WITS Witness Systems (MM)

Keith Cooley named CCO; Bill Byron Concevitch becomes CLO Witness Systems (NASDAQ: WITS), a leading global provider of workforce optimization software and services, today announced the appointments of Keith Cooley as its first Chief Customer Officer (CCO) and Bill Byron Concevitch as its first Chief Learning Officer (CLO). The two new senior leadership positions mark a significant investment by the company in the areas of customer success, as well as internal and external training and development. As the leader in innovation in the workforce optimization market and the only provider of integrated solutions for quality monitoring/call recording, workforce management, performance management and e-learning, Witness Systems is the first company in its industry to have C-level roles specifically dedicated to these key areas. "We've made a great investment that further reinforces our commitment to customer success by adding the positions of CCO and CLO, and filling these roles with proven, strategic leaders. This move strongly supports our service-oriented focus and underscores our partnership approach to ensuring customer success and satisfaction," explains Nick Discombe, president and chief operating officer for Witness Systems. "Investing in this area and at this level marks a unique distinction in our industry, as we're one of the few companies that has devoted executives and resources tied to these mission-critical responsibilities." Discombe adds, "With Keith and Bill - both reputable leaders with extensive backgrounds and track-records in technology, customer success, learning and training - we benefit from a combined 56 years of insight, experience and achievement that they've attained in aligning organizational drivers and deliverables internally and externally. Our vision is to take that forward and further afford our customers the ability to gain even greater business insight and returns as they leverage our workforce optimization software and services for growth and competitive advantage." Keith Cooley, CCO As CCO of Witness Systems, Cooley is responsible for driving programs that manage the overall customer experience, including reinforcing consistent global processes and serving as a customer advocate in such areas as sales, services and support. From the moment a company becomes a Witness Systems customer, Cooley's organization is focused on working with departments cross-functionally across the company to ensure a seamless, successful customer experience - whether the customer has contracted directly with Witness Systems or through its worldwide partner channel. Prior to joining Witness Systems, Cooley most recently launched the product development division at EzGov, an Atlanta, Georgia-based provider of online solutions for federal, state, regional and local governments. A seasoned technology veteran, he has a broad range of experience in holding executive level and leadership positions, including his roles in establishing global product development and support organizations and scaling customer satisfaction programs with such companies as Internet Security Systems, Dun & Bradstreet Software and Management Science America (MSA). "Witness Systems has a unique combination of strengths that position it well for dominance in the workforce optimization arena," said Cooley. "I'm excited by the challenge and opportunities of expanding the company's customer support initiative through cross departmental collaboration and by aligning and realizing synergies of root cause analysis, customer satisfaction and a consistent global process." Bill Byron Concevitch, CLO Supporting the company's customer-centric initiatives is Bill Byron Concevitch in the role of Chief Learning Officer. In this position, he is charged with leading the organization's global learning initiatives. Concevitch, who plays a strategic role working in Cooley's group, is responsible for facilitating organizational learning and training readiness internally throughout Witness Systems, as well as externally among its global partners and customers. Concevitch, who has a diverse background in leading strategic business initiatives, formerly served as the Chief Learning Officer for ExecuTrain, a premier global IT training provider. During his tenure there, he led the company's e-learning and virtual classroom initiatives, which included developing and launching the organization's ExecuTrain Virtual Classroom and Virtual University programs. He also served as president for Mentergy, a global provider of blended e-learning technology with operations spanning all aspects of training - from the traditional classroom to cutting-edge accelerated e-learning. Additionally, Concevitch has been recognized as one of the top 19 people to watch as "movers, shakers and thought leaders" by the Lifelong Learning Market Report. His forte in actionable learning and experience with Witness Systems' product management and sales teams are strong catalysts that will support his role as he drives an organizational skill assessment program, implements training initiatives to support channel partners, and offers blended training options for customers to gain even greater business benefit and return from their investment in the company's workforce optimization solutions. About Witness Systems Witness Systems (NASDAQ: WITS) is a leading global provider of workforce optimization software and services. The company's solutions - which play a strategic role in the customer interaction centers of Global 2000 and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) worldwide - also are deployed in IP Telephony and back office environments, and throughout the extended enterprise, including branch offices. Witness Systems' software is comprised of quality monitoring, compliance, high-volume and IP Telephony recording solutions, as well as workforce management, actionable learning and performance management applications. The company's solutions enable organizations to optimize their people, processes and technology throughout the enterprise. Witness Systems' customers benefit from an integrated business consulting, implementation and training methodology that supports a rapid deployment, enabling them to drive revenue, reduce operational costs, and achieve greater customer retention and loyalty. For additional information about Witness Systems, visit www.witness.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this release that involves Witness Systems' expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. They are identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions. These statements are based upon information available to Witness Systems as of the date of this release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements believed true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. Some of the factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include fluctuations in customer demand and the timing of orders; the company's ability to manage its growth; the risk of new product introductions and customer acceptance of new products; the rapid technological change which characterizes the company's markets; the risks associated with international sales as the company expands its markets, including the risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations; the ability of the company to complete and integrate successfully any acquisitions or investments it may make; and the ability of the company to compete successfully in the future, as well as other risks identified under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Witness, eQuality and the Witness logo are United States registered trademarks of Witness Systems, Inc., protected by laws of the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.