Data Services Industry Veteran Don McLagan Named Chairman, President and CEO at Compete, Inc.

    BOSTON--Jan. 27, 2003--Compete, Inc. today announced that veteran data services industry executive Donald L. McLagan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Man Jit Singh. McLagan, previously Chairman and CEO of NewsEdge Corp., also was named President and Chairman of the company's Board of Directors.
    "The brilliant, simple insight driving Compete, Inc. is that what consumers research online today is predictive of what they will buy tomorrow," said McLagan. "The Internet is now the research tool most consumers use when considering purchases such as cars, credit cards, mortgages or wireless plans. By analyzing 10 terabytes of data describing the online behavior of 10 million consumers, we help our customers predict consumer purchasing - both offline and online." He added, "The ability to gain what we call the 'predictive edge' is extremely valuable to our customers. This value, in turn, creates a very large and exciting business opportunity for Compete."
    "It's hard to imagine a leader more capable and experienced than Don McLagan for taking Compete to the next level," said Singh. "His entire career in the information industry has prepared him for this role. Don brings a unique strategic vision of the information industry that will further sharpen the company's focus." Singh, who stepped down for personal reasons that included a coast-to-coast commute, will continue as a member of Compete's Board of Directors.
    McLagan is an information industry entrepreneur who has been an innovator of business information services for more than 30 years. From 1988 to 2000, he was the founder, Chairman and CEO of NewsEdge Corporation, a public company subsequently acquired by Thomson Corporation. Previously, he was Vice President and General Manager of the Information Services Division of Lotus Development Corporation from 1985 to 1988, and a founding employee and Executive Vice President of Data Resources, Inc. from 1969 to 1984. In the late 1960s, he started the Advanced Computer Techniques Group within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Comptroller.
    McLagan also serves as an advisor to three companies: Alacritude, LLC, an online information research services company; Metacarta, Inc., which combines natural language processing and geographic information systems in geographic and temporal information applications; and ValuEdge Inc., which leverages Web-based technologies to deliver lean enterprise business methods and practices.
    McLagan has both B.S. (1964) and B.S.M.E. (1965) degrees from Trinity College in Hartford, CT and an MBA from Harvard Business School (1967). He is Chairman of the Parents' Fund at Cushing Academy and a Co-Chair of the capital campaign at Lawrence Academy.

    About Compete, Inc.

    Compete, Inc. is pioneering the analysis of consumer behavior online to predict consumer purchasing - both offline and online. As a Predictive Analytics services firm, Compete mines unique, actionable insights from 10 terabytes of data describing online behavior. Based on weekly monitoring of 10 million consumers, the industry's largest commercial source of consumer behavior data, Compete delivers its analyses with the speed and frequency required to impact ongoing business tactics and to measure performance against competitors continuously. Typical applications of Compete's services include customer acquisition and conversion, cross-shopping analysis, customer retention improvement, pricing and promotion optimization, demand forecasting, competitive market share monitoring, cost of service improvement and marketing ROI management. Compete serves major consumer companies in industries such as autos, credit cards, mortgages and wireless. Venture-backed by leading investors, including Charles River Ventures, St. Paul Venture Capital, North Hill Ventures and idealab!, the company is on the Web at www.compete.com.

    Note to Editors: Photo available upon request.