ITHACA, N.Y. -- John Neuman, a Cornell University alumnus and president and chief executive officer of 1492 Consulting Group, has been named interim CEO of eCornell, the university's for-profit distance-learning subsidiary, it was announced today, Nov. 11, by the eCornell office.

Neuman succeeds Francis P. Pandolfi, who joined eCornell as its first CEO in September 2000. Pandolfi resigned recently for health reasons.

"We regret that Francis has felt it necessary to step down," said Philip M. Young, chair of the board of eCornell. "Through his vision and stewardship eCornell has become a leader in its field, producing a high-quality product worthy of the Cornell 'brand.' Twelve professional development Internet-based courses are now offered by eCornell to middle management professionals around the world, and students are registering at a rate of 5,000 a year. Ten additional new course programs are currently under development and expected to be added to the company's course catalog by mid-2003. This is excellent progress in just two years."

Neuman, whose management-consulting firm is based in Ithaca, has 31 years of broad-based consulting experience with emphasis on market-driven revenue growth, e-business strategies, advanced alliances and product development, including 14 years with McKinsey & Co., where he was a partner.

"John is the ideal person to take over the stewardship of eCornell during this transition period," Young said. "We are confident that he can maintain and enhance the forward momentum the company has achieved."

Neuman said,"To date, eCornell has gained exceptional market acceptance to its initial slate of web-based courses. We strongly believe that the dramatic growth of the past can continue and even accelerate."

Young said that Neuman has agreed to serve as interim CEO on an essentially full-time basis until a new, permanent CEO is hired. The eCornell office has retained Spencer Stuart to conduct a nationwide search to identify a new CEO.

During the transition the company will move its headquarters from New York City to Ithaca, Young said, in order to strengthen its growing relationships with members of the Cornell faculty.

Neuman graduated from Cornell in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and received his master's degree in engineering in 1963. He earned an MBA degree at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1967.

Cornell University created eCornell in 2000. The wholly owned subsidiary offers executives, managers and professionals the highest quality educational experience using the latest Internet collaborative technologies.

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eCornell: http://www.ecornell.com