Tomas Speight joins Masterfile to lead European expansion

For Immediate Release

Tomas Speight joins Masterfile to lead European expansion

Toronto, Canada - September 26, 2005

On January 1, 2006, Masterfile will launch direct sales operations in Germany, Italy, Netherlands and U.K. Integral to this initiative, the Canadian company has hired Tomas Speight as Senior Vice-President International.

Mr. Speight will establish Masterfile’s European Headquarters in Düsseldorf and will simultaneously open sales offices in London and Paris.

Tomas Speight is well-known in the global stock photo industry for his accomplishments at zefa visual media where he worked as co-CEO for four years. Prior to joining zefa, Mr. Speight established and managed European operations for The Stock Market Photo Agency over a period of six years.

Masterfile’s European headquarters in Düsseldorf will control all business initiatives in Europe, including its relationship with independent agents. Masterfile Deutschland will be hiring experienced staff in business development, sales, marketing, photographer recruitment, art direction, editing, and keywording for local language versions of the Masterfile website.  It will also be recruiting sales professionals in London and Milan. Clients in the Netherlands will be served by Dutch-speaking staff in Düsseldorf.

A global strategy. Mr. Speight also joins Masterfile’s Executive Group which sets strategy and policy for the company worldwide.

Says Masterfile’s president, Steve Pigeon: “We were represented by zefa in key European markets for several years. It was a great relationship, but priorities for both companies have changed. We are parting with them on a friendly and professional basis with mutual respect for the needs and future ambitions of each company. It’s time to take Masterfile to a higher level and, with Tomas Speight on our team, we’re sure to do that.”

Tomas Speight adds: “I have always thrived in an entrepreneurial environment. Masterfile and I share a business philosophy, a love of visual communications and a desire for excellence. From personal experience, I know the global appeal of the Masterfile image collection. The company’s capabilities and ambitious growth plan provide exactly the kind of challenge that appeals to me.”

About Masterfile

Masterfile Corporation is a global visual content provider, with an exceptional collection of rights-managed and royalty-free images by world-class artists. The images, covering a wide range of subjects, are stored digitally, showcased, licensed and delivered instantly to business clients worldwide via the Internet. Headquartered in Toronto, Masterfile has offices in New York, Chicago and Seattle, plus independent agents in 30 other countries. It has recently announced plans to open wholly owned offices in Düsseldorf, London and Milan.

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