SHANGHAI, CHINA, Aug 22, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- SearchMedia Holdings Limited ("SearchMedia" or the "Company") (nyse amex:IDI) /quotes/zigman/1532432 IDI.WS -2.22% , one of China's leading nationwide multi-platform media companies, today announced it has appointed Mr. Johnny Lo as the Company's Chief Operating Officer and CEO of China Operations, effective September 1, 2011.
Mr. Lo brings to SearchMedia over two decades of outdoor advertising experience in China and Hong Kong. He joins SearchMedia from Sky Media, an integrated outdoor advertising company he founded in 2004, whose client base includes well-recognized brands such as McDonald's, the NBA, and Johnnie Walker. Prior to founding Sky Media, Mr. Lo was the Founding Managing Director of Portland China, a full service outdoor advertising company in China owned by WPP/MindShare /quotes/zigman/112659/quotes/nls/wppgy WPPGY -1.53% ; General Manager of Greater China for Leo Burnett Ltd ("Leo Burnett"); and held various roles at the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation ("MTRC"). At Leo Burnett, Mr. Lo served high profile multinational corporate clients including Procter & Gamble, McDonald's, Smartone, Standard Charter Bank, Coca Cola and Motorola and was instrumental in launching Leo Burnett's new media company Starcom in Hong Kong and China. At MTRC, Mr. Lo was responsible for annual revenue of over HK$500 million across various business areas including poster advertising, Kiosk rental and all other revenue-generating concessions.
Mr. Lo has also received various awards in recognition for his accomplishments in the advertising industry, including "The Most Important Leader Contributing to the Growth of China's Outdoor Market" at the Fifth China Outdoor Advertising Conference in 2008 and "Outdoor Person of the Year" at the Inaugural China Outdoor Conference in 2005. Mr. Lo received an MBA from the University of Hong Kong and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Mr. Paul Conway, CEO of SearchMedia, commented, "We are delighted to welcome a veteran of China's outdoor advertising industry to our executive management team. We believe Mr. Lo's expertise in the outdoor advertising business in China as well as his experience in serving leading global and national brands will help us better penetrate China's compelling advertising market and grow our concession base. Furthermore, his managerial and business development experience will prove invaluable to SearchMedia as we continue to develop towards our growth objectives and execute new strategic initiatives."
About SearchMedia SearchMedia is a leading nationwide multi-platform media company and one of the largest operators of integrated outdoor billboard and in-elevator advertising networks in China. SearchMedia operates a network of high-impact billboards and one of China's largest networks of in-elevator advertisement panels in 50 cities throughout China. SearchMedia's core outdoor billboard and in-elevator platforms are complemented by its transit advertising platform, which together enable it to provide multi-platform, "one-stop shop" services for its local, national and international advertising clients.
Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts, including statements about SearchMedia's beliefs and expectations, may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined by the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "confident" and similar statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Mr. Lo's ability to effectively serve as COO and CEO of China Operations; whether Mr. Lo can navigate the business environment in China and lead the Company to long-term growth, as well as whether Mr. Lo can help the Company penetrate China's advertising market and grow the Company's concession base and other risks outlined in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SearchMedia cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. SearchMedia does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.