REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 8, 2000 — The MSN® Carpoint™
online automotive service, the most visited car-buying and ownership site on the Web, today announced that Ruth D’Souza has been named general manager of Carpoint.ca ( http://www.carpoint.ca/ ), the Canadian version of Carpoint.com. As part of the MSN.CA network, the Carpoint.ca auto channel reaches 3.5 million unique Canadian users each month.
D’Souza will manage and grow Carpoint Canadian business initiatives and further the site’s goal of making it easier for all Canadian consumers to find a car they love at a price they can afford.
“This is a very exciting time for Carpoint.ca, and we are very pleased to have Ruth with us,”
said Jeff Dossett, CEO of Carpoint.com.
“Ruth’s proven executive leadership capabilities and business development background make her the ideal candidate to manage and grow Carpoint.ca. We are confident that she will work with the industry and develop the services necessary to meet the demand of Canadian consumers.”
In her new role, D’Souza will oversee all business aspects of the Carpoint.ca online automotive service, including developing and managing strategic business relationships and developing business opportunities, product design, consumer and industry marketing, and dealer recruitment.
“Carpoint.ca is committed to giving Canadian consumers the resources and services they need to make car buying an easier and more exciting process,”
D’Souza said.
“I look forward to working with the industry to provide the technology and services to sell more cars more efficiently and enable consumers to make more-informed decisions when buying a car.”
Before her appointment to general manager, D’Souza was director of business development for @Home Canada, where she negotiated and managed partner relationships, implemented marketing strategies, and identified and developed product offerings. Before that, D’Souza held various executive positions including serving as general manager of TeleWorld Communications and Rogers Pay Per View, a division of Rogers Cable Systems, and vice president of marketing for travel at The T. Eaton Ltd., based in Toronto, Canada.
Carpoint.ca, available in both French and English, provides Canadian consumers with comprehensive new car-buying services, up-to-date news and reviews, and safety information, all tailored to the unique needs and interests of Canadians. The site is modeled after the U.S. site’s technology and design.
As the most-visited online car-buying service in the United States, Carpoint reaches more than 6 million consumers each month and generates more than $8 billion (U.S.) in vehicle sales each year through its new and used car-buying services. Carpoint has a network of more than 5,000 dealers.
About Carpoint
Launched in October 1995, MSN Carpoint ( http://www.carpoint.com/ ) is the leading online automotive marketplace, receiving more than 6 million consumer visits each month. From product reviews and surround video features to new and used car pricing, the Carpoint site helps consumers find the car they love, at a price they can afford. With details on more than 10,000 car models and 100,000 used vehicles, visitors can research and compare cars of virtually every make and model, identify local dealers, and receive instructions for post-purchase service and maintenance.
Carpoint generates more than $8 billion (U.S.) in auto sales each year for its network of more than 5,000 affiliated dealers nationwide. Carpoint is exclusively endorsed by the American International Automobile Dealers Association.
About MSN.CA
On one Web page, MSN.CA makes available to Canadians compelling Internet services, information, entertainment and a variety of communication options, including the MSN Hotmail® Web-based e-mail service, the world’s leading globally accessible, free,* Web-based electronic mail service. MSN.CA also provides such high-quality interactive services as Zone.com, MSN Web Communities, MSN Messenger Service and MSN Search for users of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system. The Web site address is http://www.msn.ca/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
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