In this newly created role, Rider is responsible for managing NCR's self-service and assisted-service solutions and services as the company expands beyond its key industries - financial services, retail and hospitality - into travel, healthcare, entertainment, gaming and the public sector across Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

NCR aims to build on its market leadership in self-service in Europe in ATMs and retail self-checkout by introducing a range of new, innovative self-service and assisted-service solutions that will broaden its offerings to companies in the retail and financial industries. Under NCR's new multi-industry structure, Rider will also bring NCR's leading solutions in other industries to the European market, while investing in further sales and industry expertise across the region.

"Throughout Europe, consumers are choosing to interact with businesses via an increasing number and variety of self-service channels, such as the internet, mobile devices, contactless cards and self-service kiosks," said Rider. "NCR is introducing solutions across multiple industries to enable companies to adapt their business models to the reality of the new self-service economy, driven by consumer demand. For the travel industry, NCR is bringing its leading integrated multichannel software solution, kiosk, business consultancy and maintenance services to Europe from the United States.

NCR's solution allows air travelers to manage travel arrangements and changes by text, e-mail or at a kiosk. This solution helps airlines to better manage seat occupancy and improve revenues by enabling more transactions through the Internet, mobile devices and kiosk, including upgrades, and supplementary services. NCR's travel solutions also extend to hotels, car hire and cruises so that consumers can manage all travel through self-service.

In the healthcare sector, NCR works with 120 healthcare companies worldwide in offering healthcare self-service that allows patients ts to check in and manage their medical data. As NCR brings these solutions to primary and secondary healthcare organisations in Europe, it will help automate patient management processes and routine administration, freeing up healthcare staff to focus on providing clinical care. Patients will benefit from reduced waiting times and greater access to their health information.

Other uses of self-service include NCR's self-shipping solution that enables consumers to weigh and pay for parcels and letters themselves. This reduces queues at postal counters and frees up staff to help more customers with more complex transactions.

"Self-service is enabling companies in the mature economies in Europe to transform the way they connect with their customers, ensuring that traditional channels are integrated with latest technologies. In the emerging economies, companies are building self-service channels first, because they know their customers prefer this and it provides faster speed to market and greater cost effectiveness for service delivery," said Rider. "NCR is now organised across the region to deliver more innovative solutions faster, backed by the largest self-service customer services organization in Europe."

Rider was previously vice president of NCR's Customer Services division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading an organization that is responsible for customer services demand creation and service offer deployment and delivery. He has experience in a variety of senior roles at companies including HP and Digital Equipment Corporation, and as UK managing director at Storage Tek. He reports to Malcolm Collins, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for NCR.