Local e-commerce facilitator First Atlantic Commerce (FAC) is staffing up to meet the growing demand for its services.

Andrea Wilson, a co-founder of the company and previously senior vice president, has been named the company's chief executive officer. Ms Wilson, whose background is in technology and banking, has helped to create the company's technology products, including FAC's transaction processing engine, cGate. She has also been instrumental in establishing the company's many strategic marketing partnerships and relationships around the world.

New additions to the team include Leigh Estabrook, who brings extensive expertise in business development and marketing and will assume an executive role in business development and strategic alliances.

Joining Ms Estabrook in business development are Bermudians Tricia Lines and Karla deSousa, both in the role of manager, business development.

Ms deSousa will be participating in the company's electronic commerce training programme.

Ronald Viera will bring his extensive experience in information technology to the position of vice president, e-commerce operations. In that position, Mr.

Viera will be responsible for the global development and ongoing support of FAC's technology products and services. Dawn Blundell will be joining FAC in the position of networking and application support engineer. Ms Blundell brings more than five years of experience in point-of-sale systems, and is a Microsoft certified systems engineer. She will be responsible for FAC's internal network and will be a strategic part of the FAC integration team.

Also joining the team is Anne Loxton as director, corporate communications. Ms Loxton will be responsible for global communications and marketing as the company continues to expand its services around the world.

The position of chief financial officer is expected to be filled shortly.

"I am pleased to have such a talented group of professionals joining the First Atlantic Commerce team,'' Ms Wilson said. "Our expansion plans are under way and our new staff will help us to realise our aggressive company goals.'' Ms Wilson said she is impressed by the number of Bermudians with qualified expertise that can be applied to the field of e-commerce. E-commerce is a combination of a variety of different skill sets, including sales, marketing, technology, financial services, legal and accounting -- it takes a combined team effort to make it work.'' The larger team will help FAC to more aggressively market the company and Bermuda as a premier offshore jurisdiction.