Mysis lures Open boss for Net project

Interactive TV service Open is losing marketing director Nick Mercer, who is to join the online division of financial services software supplier Mysis.

Mercer takes up the position of marketing director at Mysis Interactive Trading (MIT) on February 7, and will oversee the &£50m launch of online financial services for consumers. He will have a seat on the board and report to MIT managing director Jasper McMahon. It is unclear if he will be offered equity in the company – a common means of luring executives into e-commerce.

MIT operates online insurance broker Screentrade. Last November, Mysis announced a &£50m investment over three years in its online division and plans to strike partnership deals with a range of financial services companies.

Mercer joined Open two years ago, when it was still called British Interactive Services, and saw it through its launch in October.