Allen Gilstrap of American Express Services Europe Ltd. Re-elected Chairman of Largest Smart Card Organization

New York, NY, October 23, 2000–The Smart Card Forum (SCF), a multi-industry organization working to accelerate the widespread acceptance and application of smart card technology, today announced its new Chairman, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors for the 2000-2001 year. Donna Farmer, President and CEO of the Smart Card Forum, congratulates Allen Gilstrap, Vice President of American Express Services Europe Ltd., as he is re-elected as the Smart Card Forum Chairman of the Board at the Forum’s 8th Annual Meeting. The Smart Card Forum’s Executive Committee and Board are made up of industry leaders and visionaries that will guide the organization through another successful year.

The new Executive Committee for the 2000-2001 year has been elected at the Annual Board Meeting held in San Francisco this past September. Following are the individuals who have been elected:

• Allen Gilstrap, American Express Services Europe Ltd., elected as Chairman
• Gilles Lisimaque, Gemplus, elected as Vice Chairman
• Charles Walton, Securify, elected as Treasurer
• Kevin Gillick, DataCard elected as Secretary
• William Barr, Telcordia Technologies, elected as Assistant Treasurer
• Randy Vanderhoof, First Access, elected as Assistant Secretary

“Marked by the first mass issuance of smart cards in the United States, the global vision for smart card is finally materializing,” said Gilstrap. “The Smart Card Forum will continue its leadership role in propelling the industry and providing its members with essential services including the latest industry information and educational programs.”

Farmer, in welcoming Gilstrap as the Chairman at the Smart Card Forum’s Annual Meeting, said, “I look forward to another new year with the Forum, and to working with Allen in continuing to build our membership base and enhancing our services.”

In addition to the Executive Committee, following are the already existing Smart Card Forum Board Members: Kirk Brafford, Principal Consultant, F.I. Group; Thierry Burgess, EVP Smart Cards, Oberthur Card Systems; Peter Cerra, VP Product Management, Identrus LLC; Mike Dinning, Division Chief, US Department of Transportation; Louis Gasparini, VP Information Technology, @Home Network; Patrick Gauthier, VP, Visa USA; Bill Holcombe, Director, Card Technology, General Services Administration; Ann Kennedy, VP and General Manager, First Data Corporation; Sandy Morris, VP, North America eBusiness Group, MasterCard International; Jim Parker, VP, Chase.com, The Chase Manhattan Bank; William Randle, EVP, The Huntington National Bank; Charles Walton, VP PKI Services, Securify.

“With many of the representatives from leading smart card technology companies that will lead our organization going forward, The Smart Card Forum will continue to fulfill its goals in achieving the widespread use of smart cards in the US,” said SCF President and CEO Donna Farmer. “As we move forward into our new membership year, I would like to thank our departing Board Members who have helped bring the Forum to where it is now: Miguel Abramowicz, Citibank; Alan Bondzio, Worldcom; Linda Brown, Infineon; Tambra Nichols, American Express, Michael Orr, 3-G International; Lynn Roloff, IBM, Bette Wasserman, Bank of America; and Jody Zimmerman, Motorola. They all have dedicated their time and knowledge to promote the industry through their devoted efforts with the Smart Card Forum.”

About the Smart Card Forum

The Smart Card Forum is a non-profit, multi-industry organization of nearly 200 members working to accelerate the widespread acceptance of multiple application smart card technology by bringing together, in an open forum, leading users and technologists from both the public and private sectors. The Smart Card Forum is the leading organization for education and awareness of topical issues associated with the use and adoption of smart card systems. For more information about The Smart Card Forum, log on to the organization’s Web site at http://www.smartcardforum.org.