NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Collectors Universe, Inc. , a leading provider of value-added authentication and grading services to dealers and collectors of high-value collectibles, diamonds and colored gemstones, today announced that Don Willis, veteran California business executive, has agreed to serve as President of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), a division of Collectors Universe, Inc., effective Tuesday, October 7, 2008.
"Don Willis has more than 30 years of executive experience in growing corporate businesses and for the last six years has successfully built a business in buying and selling rare coins," said David Hall, PCGS Founder and President of Collectors Universe. "Don is a rare combination of solid corporate business experience and world-class coin expertise."
Mr. Willis began his business career in Information Technology and has served over 20 years in information technology in several growing companies. In 1996, Mr. Willis founded his own Internet-based, supply chain software company, raising $58 million in venture capital funding and later sold the company in a private transaction in 2003. Thereafter, Mr. Willis followed a personal passion and founded his own business in rare coins, growing the business over the years at both retail and wholesale.
"David Hall and I are thrilled to welcome Don Willis and his corporate growth experience and coin market savvy to Collectors Universe in this important position as President of PCGS. David's revolutionary vision and concept 22 years ago of independent, standardized grading has provided an extremely reliable form of consumer protection and greater confidence to the rare coin market. Now, Don will help us maintain and grow PCGS as the industry standard in third-party certification," said Michael Haynes, Chief Executive Officer of Collectors Universe.
Since its founding in 1986, PCGS has certified the authenticity and grade of more than 15 million coins. The popular PCGS Set Registry(SM) program has more than 36,500 U.S. and world coins sets registered by collectors and dealers.
About Collectors Universe
Collectors Universe, Inc. is a leading provider of value added services to the high-value collectibles and diamond and colored gemstones markets. The Company authenticates and grades collectible coins, sports cards, autographs, stamps, currency, diamonds and colored gemstones. The Company also compiles and publishes authoritative information about United States and world coins, collectible sports cards and sports memorabilia, collectible stamps, diamonds and colored gemstones. This information is accessible to collectors and dealers at the Company's web site, http://www.collectors.com/, and is also published in print.
Contact:
Joseph Wallace Brandi Piacente
Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations
Collectors Universe The Piacente Group, Inc.
949-567-1245 212-481-2050
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