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Candidates Represent Prestigious Leaders From the Financial Information Industry

WASHINGTON, July 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Financial Information Services Division (FISD) of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) announced today the nominees for the Market Data Lifetime Achievement Award.

This award recognizes outstanding individuals who have contributed to the major developments and accomplishments of the financial information industry over the past 20 years. Candidates are vetted by the FISD Award Committee comprised of a broad spectrum of industry players. Voting by FISD members runs through the end of August.

Since 2005, the Market Data Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented at the biennial World Financial Information Conference (WFIC). The winner of the 2009 award will be announced on Monday, October 5 at WFIC in Athens, Greece.

The 2009 Nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award are:

Stuart Clark, Interactive Data - Stuart J. Clark served as Interactive Data's president and chief executive officer and a member of the Company's Board of Directors from 2000 - 2009. Under Clark's leadership, Interactive Data expanded its offerings through both internal innovation and strategic acquisitions to establish itself as one of the industry's largest providers of financial market data, sophisticated analytics and related solutions. Prior to his current position, Clark served as president of Interactive Data Corporation as it existed before its merger with Data Broadcasting Corporation. From 1993 to 1995, Clark was a director of UK-based Financial Times Information, with specific responsibility for the Market Data Division.

Joseph Kasputys, IHS Global Insight - Dr. Kasputys formed Global Insight, Inc. in 2001, to join together the world's premier economic and financial analysis and forecasting firms: Data Resources DRI and WEFA (Wharton Economic Forecasting Associates), along with Global InTech, a software company specializing in time-series data management and interests in Decision Economics. Dr. Kasputys was with Primark Corporation from 1987 to 2000, where he served as chairman, president, and CEO while successfully transforming Primark from a major utility holding company into a leading financial information and information technology firm. Prior, Dr. Kasputys served as EVP of McGraw-Hill responsible for business development and as Chief Economist responsible for coordinating the economic work of all of its businesses.

Eugen Niesper, SIX Telekurs - As the CEO of SIX Telekurs for more than a decade, Eugen Niesper was instrumental in grooming the company to become a globally ranked player in the competitive financial information business. After beginning his career at SIX Telekurs as the head of sales and marketing for Switzerland, Eugen was elevated to Chief Executive officer and member of the holding company's executive committee. While maintaining direct responsibility for international growth, Eugen managed several strategic acquisitions. The most notable include taking a majority share in Rolotec AG in 1998, and the acquisition of French financial information business Fininfo SA in 2007, thereby creating the third largest data vendor in Europe.

"FISD is pleased to continue to recognize leaders in our industry via the Market Data Lifetime Achievement Award," remarked Tom Davin, FISD Managing Director. "We would be honored to present it to any of these distinguished individuals. They epitomize the continued growth and significant progress of this industry across the board, and their contributions deserve recognition."

The Market Data Lifetime Achievement Award was previously presented to Bernie Weinstein of Cantor Fitzgerald at WFIC 2005, and to Leo McBlain of the Financial Information Forum at WFIC 2007.

Held biennially, WFIC is the only global conference focused exclusively on issues associated with the dissemination, management, and use of financial information. For more information about WFIC, please visit: www.fisd.net/wfic/2009/

About FISD

The Financial Information Services Division (FISD) of the Software and Information Industry Association providers a neutral business forum for exchanges, market data vendors, specialist data providers, brokerage firms, investment managers and banks to address and resolve business and technical issues related to the distribution, management, administration and use of market data. Participants use the forum to exchange ideas, build business relationships and improve the business climate associated with the worldwide flow of financial information. For more information, visit www.fisd.net.