NORRIS Ebbin is a Bermudian chartered accountant with a penchant for technology. And now he has a job that is perfectly suited to his abilities, as head of the new local branch of a global data communications provider.

Transaction Network Services (TNS) was founded in 1990 and has been connecting companies around the world ever since in a variety of ways and expanding its operation across the globe.

The services TNS provides range from credit card processing to electronic benefits transactions on behalf of governments, and telephone calling card validation to a compressed voice service.

In Bermuda, Mr. Ebbin will be focusing on attracting clients to sign up for TNS Financial Exchange Transactions ? used by stock brokers and fund managers to automate trading, using the new FIX message protocol for financial transactions.

"We will enable people to trade with other people around the world," Mr. Ebbin said. "We own our own network and we guarantee a high level of service.

"There are a number of large entities in Bermuda which have offices in different countries around the world and they need a secure network for their data communications. TNS can provide that and we also offer management services to clients."

Local companies will be offered access to TNS' fully managed, proprietary IP network, the Secure Trading Extranet. This will enable traders on the island to connect to more than 1,000 financial community end-points around the world, representing over 450 buy and sell side institutions, market data providers, software vendors, exchanges and trading venues.

TNS has a presence in 28 countries and has recently established itself in India, a country with a rapidly growing economy and a developing tech sector.

Large international businesses are the obvious targets for the services TNS has to offer.

"By offering qualities such as innovative products, very competitive pricing for bandwidth and effective partnerships with organisations already established on the island, we intend to help banks, organisations involved in Bermuda's major reinsurance market and other institutions in the financial services sector run their businesses more effectively and efficiently", states Mr. Ebbin.

"By doing so, we will help them retain and enhance their international competitiveness and ensure Bermuda retains its pre-eminent position as a financial services centre."

Mr. Ebbin was appointed managing director of TNS' Bermuda operation, which has an office at 7 Reid Street, Suite 106B. After a few months of preparation, it opened for business this week.

"We incorporated in January and since then I have been preparing for the launch, travelling around the world and visiting other offices and meeting key players," Mr. Ebbin said.

For the Bermudian, it's an opportunity to get involved with a business operation from its inception ? a challenge that requires an innovative mind. But Mr. Ebbin's past experience with start-ups show he's qualified for the job. He joined TNS from from the Bermuda-based e-commerce credit card processor Promisant Technology, where he was vice-president for finance and control for the past three years.

During his 15-year business career he also worked for other e-commerce infrastructure start-up companies in Bermuda, particularly in the credit and debit cards industry, in operations and finance.

His background includes finance and accounting, business system design and implementation, and audit and compliance.

A qualified chartered accountant, he has a degree in Business Administration from Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada, and an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix in the US.

"I worked as an accountant for KPMG for a number of years, but I always had a real interest in technology," Mr. Ebbin said.

"That led me to Promisant and there, we did some business deals with TNS. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when the TNS job came up."

He has every confidence in what TNS will be able to offer Bermuda clients, large and small.

"When there is a problem with the network, nine times out of ten, we will be able to tell the client before they even realise there's anything wrong," Mr. Ebbin said.

"Data communication is becoming more and more critical to businesses everywhere and this job is a great opportunity for me to be able to offer solutions to local entities.

"We will be listening to clients and tailoring solutions to meet their specific needs."

TNS' presence in Bermuda will not only offer island companies connectivity with the rest of the world ? the reverse will also be true.

Hence, global companies will gain connectivity to Bermuda's financial and insurance markets. They will be able to submit a variety of trade-related messages ? including indications of interest, order routing, and executions ? to local companies.

Mr. Ebbin said TNS could activate connections for companies within three days of them joining the network.

TNS' Bermuda operations are part of the newly formed TNS Bermuda and Caribbean operations, which are managed by Kevin McDonnell.

Mr. McDonnell said: "On behalf of TNS, I'm delighted to entrust Norris Ebbin to carry out the very important task of developing our business in the world's largest offshore financial market. Bermuda is a tech savvy culture, deserving of the highest standards in technology and global connectivity."