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Online business network gets makeover

By Yu Hongyan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-05-11 15:05

MeettheBoss.com, a British online network for financial executives, has just unveiled a new and improved version with increased functionality and features to aid financial services professionals.

It offers more communication tools, such as free video roundtables, executive broadcasts and "smartwords" - an intelligent spine around which the whole site sits.

Rolling out with the new version is an upgraded version of MeettheBossTV, the online television channel dedicated to business leaders.

"We have added the functionality they (the members) wanted and kept the best of what we already offered: instant access to a network of your peers," said Harlan Davis, the site's director.

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"A very cool new central console 'feeds' members specific content, people, and broadcasts based on their activity across the site - from the weather where they are, or where they are going, to tweets, blogs, contacts, and their favorite newspaper. It's the ultimate aggregator."

The financial services online community now has over 50,000 members. No profit is made from the members, no membership is required, and there is no charge for using the site.

Members can pick up leadership lessons and business tips from executives. The first week of the launch will feature talks with Ron Green, SVP of Bank of America, Mark Tiggas, SVP for Wells Fargo and also Frank Wu, VP for Security Architecture at Citigroup.

"Social networking sites are great to catch-up with old friends, share photographs, music and links, but in this climate, does the executive community have time for this?" said Spencer Green, CEO of MeettheBoss.com. "Credit isn't the only casualty of the crunch. Time is another scarce resource for executives; they need immediate value when online."

Experts predict this new way of business networking is the only way forward for the Banking industry as time is running out to create an economic turnaround, adding it is imperative that executives can speak in a secure area with the most influential figure heads at their fingertips.