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Company announces that senior executive Joe Chen is leaving
Beijing, CHINA, March 07, 2001 - Leading Internet portal
SOHU.com (NASDAQ: SOHU) has signed a co-branding pact with Tai Kang Insurance
Company, one of China's largest life indemnity enterprises. Under this one-year
agreement Tai Kang will take advantage of SOHU.com's branding power by setting
up a channel where browsers can purchase life insurance online. The site linked
to www.business.sohu.com will provide consumers with information covering all
aspects of life insurance and financial planning.
"Tai Kang's collaboration with the 'Search Fox' is one example of SOHU.com's
drive to develop innovative methods of diversifying its advertising offering,"
said Victor Koo, SOHU.com's Senior Vice President of Business Development.
"SOHU.com is specifically targeting its clients' needs by helping them to
professionalise their web based services, and formulate more effective
e-marketing communication strategies."
In January 2001, SOHU.com helped the world's largest food company Nestle
develop a creative two-month online advertising campaign for its Kit Kat
chocolate brand. SOHU.com moved beyond traditional banner and button
advertising, offering Kit Kat an innovative marketing solution that included a
mini-web site; floating logos and banners to drive traffic to the Kit Kat site;
interactive products games; as well as brand specific e-cards and targeted
e-mailing. SOHU.com also leveraged its broad market mind-share to jointly
promote the Kit Kat and SOHU.com brands on billboards and light-boxes throughout
Beijing and Shanghai.
"Only a fraction of domestic companies in China have added an online
component to their businesses; but a growing number of enterprises are in the
process of planning and building an Internet dimension to their operations,"
remarked Charles Zhang, CEO and president of SOHU.com. "Our marketing,
technology and sales teams are ready to give companies a complete package of
professional web services that will help them to succeed online, and effectively
differentiate their products in an overly crowded branding environment."
Meanwhile, senior -vice president Joe Chen is leaving the company to move
back to the United States with his family and pursue new start-up opportunities
at the end of this week.
"Joe has contributed tremendously to SOHU.com's merger with ChinaRen.com,
which has propelled us into the Number One portal position in China, according
to Iamasia. Since the acquisition Joe has helped map out the future direction of
the company. We are sorry to see him leave but respect his decision. As a
shareholder Joe will continue to be involved in the company's development", said
Charles Zhang, CEO and president of SOHU.com.
Joseph Chen is co-founder of ChinaRen.com which became the leading youth
community website within one year after its launch in 1999. The company was
acquired by SOHU.com in October 2000.
About SOHU.com
SOHU.com is the leading Internet portal in
Mainland China with current daily page views exceeding 12 million. It provides
navigation/search, news, sports, business and finance, real estate channel,
entertainment, chat, email and e-commerce activities for a solid and wide base
of visitors. Dr. Charles Zhang founded SOHU.com in 1997. Its investors include
Intel, Dow Jones, IDG, the Morningside China Group, PCCW, Legend and Hikari. Its
content partners include CNET, DOW Jones and dozens of local media organizations
in China.
For further information:
Dahlia Wei
SOHU Investor
Relations and Communications
Tel: +86 10 6272 6598
E-mail:
ir@sohu-inc.com
http://www.sohu.com/about/English/ | 
