Wayne Bos, former managing director of Sausage Software, has been appointed director and CEO of Mid-East Minerals with orders to change the company's name to Tomorrow and exploit business opportunities in the "new economy". "The new investment strategy for Mid-East is to grow businesses in the same way Wayne Bos has built other entities from young enterprises to companies that command respect in their respective markets," explained Rod Lyle, who has joined the company's board and assumed the role of managing director.

Bos, who retains seats on the board of Sausage and Bourse Data, picked up on the theme. "Mid-East will set a benchmark for investment in the technology sector - injecting traditional business fundamentals into the new economy business," he explained.

Mid-East, which is 90 per cent controlled by Guiness Peat Group, announced several other changes. Deputy chairman Dr Gary Weiss will be appointed chairman and Michael Jefferies will remain a non-executive director, while non-executive directors Maurice Loomes and John Roth, along with chairman Sir Ron Brierley, will retire from the board.

Chung in as Lin out at Acer

Charles Chung has been appointed managing director of Acer Computer Australia, replacing Patrick Lin, who has been promoted to president of Acer America Corporation after four years at the head of the Australian operation. Chung was previously sales and marketing director.

"Our key objectives of expanding Acer's market presence, becoming Australia's most effective IT company and achieving a top three position by 2002 is still very much in focus," Chung said.

Ralston takes IFIP post

Prins Ralston, former president of the Australian Computer Society and managing director of IT services company eNTITy1 in the Northern Territory, has been elected a trustee of the council of the International Federation for Information Processing. His election took place at the recent meeting of the IFIP General Assembly in Beijing.

Although two of IFIP's 12 working groups are chaired by Australians, Ralston is only the second Australia to sit on the council in IFIP's 40 year history. He is also IFIP's chairman of publications.

"IFIP deals with more than 50 different nations, so there are lots of cultural and language issues to deal with apart from the technology issues," Ralston noted. The biggest issue arising at the recent meeting was the digital divide and the way technology is accelerating the differences between the wealthy and the poor, he said. "The issue was the focus of several discussions at the congress and was also referred to by Chinese President Jiang Zhemin when he officially opened the event, using his keynote address to call on the developed nations to help countries like China to narrow the digital gap," Ralston explained.

Around the traps

Call centre specialist Callscan Australia has appointed Hillel Benedykt CEO of its operations in Australia and New Zealand, reporting to group managing director Tony Scragg in the UK. Benedykt was with IBM for 18 years, most recently as national channels manager for Corepoint Technology in customer relationship management solutions.

Barbara Olde has been appointed director of information and communication services at the Australian Catholic University. She was previously director of information technology services at the University of Sydney and has chaired the Council of University Directors of Information Technology, as well as the executive of the NSW Regional Network (AARNET).

Plenty of doors have been banging at ISIS Communications where a large number of staff - some sources suggest more than 100 - have been laid off. A statement released by the company claimed that because a number of projects had been completed or were almost completed "the company has been able to significantly reduce staffing levels consistent with the reduced development activity". In addition, a "strategic review of operations" has resulted in "a streamlining of the company's organisational and management structures". It has been reported that the sackings were needed to save the company $A1 million a month.