CompuServer now ClickOver CEO

Just a few weeks ago, Scott Kauffman, vice president of interactive services for CompuServe (CSRV), was making inspirational speeches to his colleagues in Ohio about the embattled online service's future.

Today, he was in California's Silicon Valley talking about his excitement in becoming president and CEO of ClickOver, which develops and markets software and services for electronic advertising.

Kauffman, who was in charge of CompuServe's failed attempt to launch a family-oriented online service, said he still believes in CompuServe, which currently is trying to get itself back on its financial legs with the launch of its all-Internet platform.

But, he added, ClickOver was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" that he felt compelled to take.

"There's never a good time to do these things," he said. "When opportunity knocks you certainly have to open the door and look. This is a great opportunity."

ClickOver, founded in May 1996, is funded by venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers. It has released ClickWise, an ad-management system for Web sites that aims to improve profitability and accountability to advertisers.

Kauffman said he looks forward to helping build a company "from the ground up."