Richard Kennedy Joins Mitchell as Senior Vice President of Customer Service
SAN DIEGO--Jan. 9, 2003--Richard "Dick" Kennedy has joined Mitchell International Inc. as senior vice president of Customer Service.
He brings to Mitchell more than 30 years of executive management experience in the areas of customer support, product management and engineering from companies engaged in the development of computers, software, e-commerce and training programs.
Prior to joining Mitchell, Kennedy was senior vice president of Global Customer Services for San Diego-based Peregrine Systems, a provider of infrastructure management systems software. While at Peregrine, he led a significant expansion of the Customer Support organization, growing it from a staff of 95 to over 600 people in 12 support centers providing around-the-clock support in eight languages. In addition, he was responsible for Professional Services and Education Services.
In his role with Mitchell, Kennedy will be responsible for overseeing all functions within Mitchell's award-winning Customer Service department. The department covers a broad array of services including training, technical assistance, customer support, field services and hardware and installation services.
"Throughout his career, Dick has demonstrated a breadth of technical and managerial talent in senior positions within hardware and software companies, managing technical operations, product management, engineering, systems integration and quality improvement," said Jim Lindner, Mitchell's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "His broad technical background and strong management skills will be an asset to Mitchell as it continues its tradition of providing customers with the industry's highest level of support."
Mitchell's Customer Service department has been honored on several occasions for its service excellence. Most recently, Mitchell received the 2001 Software Technical Assistance Recognition (STAR) award, which is the highest form of recognition given in the service and support industry. Mitchell was selected for the award by the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) and was recognized in the sustained customer service excellence category. The association represents over 500 member companies worldwide, including such industry leaders as Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq. This was Mitchell's second STAR award, having also won two years earlier.
Kennedy received his master's degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston. He also maintains memberships in the Software Support Professionals Association and the Project Management Institute.
About Mitchell
Mitchell International Inc., founded in 1946 and with headquarters in San Diego, is The Source for information software and eBusiness solutions for the insurance and collision repair industries. Providing services that enhance productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction, Mitchell facilitates several million electronic transactions between more than 16,000 business partners each month. Mitchell's own parts and labor database, a critical connectivity point between shops and insurers, is trusted for its accuracy and respected as the industry standard. For more information on Mitchell, contact Bonnie Ward, public relations manager, at 858/530-8990 or bonnie.ward@mitchell.com. Visit our Web site at www.mitchell.com.
Photo available upon request.