Thales e-Transactions Names Fred Silverman President/CEO

T hales e-Transactions Inc. has a new President and CEO. Fred Silverman was named to the position on Oct. 15, and he will head the Atlanta-based provider of POS transaction equipment, a division of The Thales Group.

Silverman's career spans three decades in the financial services and information systems industries. His background includes more than 10 years at CitiGroup where he served in key positions on teams developing a national credit card business, helping to create a worldwide revolution in retail banking.

Silverman's experience also includes innovative work in e-commerce. As one of the founders of CyberCash Inc., the Internet payments pioneer, he contributed to the development of patent-pending technology for debit card processing and developed key relationships with companies like AOL. Most recently, he served as CEO for KeepMore Inc., an Internet start-up.

"I'm honored to be given the opportunity to lead a part of The Thales Group. Thales e-Transactions in North America has the virtues of a great market position, talented and motivated people, and a healthy parent, both able and demanding," Silverman said. "I expect to be kept on my toes, but that will be just one more element to help us grow faster."

The Thales Group is one of the world's largest technology companies, employing more than 65,000 people in countries around the globe, with aerospace, defense and IT&S divisions.

Silverman served as an officer in the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group in Asia. He has a degree in economics and psychology and did graduate work in marketing and financial management.

He lectures regularly on the Internet's impact on society and financial services for the FDIC, and he trains bank examiners. He lives in Bethesda, Md., with his wife and two teen-age children, and is active in civic groups and boards.