Maverick clients launch two new content platforms

Dorset, UK – Maverick Outsource Services, the specialist outsource solutions company for the publishing industry, today announced the forthcoming launch of new online platforms from two of its current customers.

The recently founded publishing house, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals (BQFJ) will be launching its new online content platform, QScience.com, in mid-December. The new platform will deliver a broad portfolio of open access journals and developed to the highest international peer review standards. Maverick were originally retained over summer 2010 to assist with the RFP and vendor selection processes for both the QScience.com platform itself, as well as the associated peer review system. However, Maverick have now been asked to stay with the project as an outsourced technical and content production management resource through to mid 2011, assisting the BQFJ with further developments to its "next generation" scholarly publishing system.

Arend Kuster, Managing Director at BQFJ commented, "Maverick were the obvious choice to guide us through the initial process, as they understood our initial requirements immediately and their in-depth market knowledge, technical understanding and knowledge of the business needs for publishers were extremely valuable. But they have continued to add fantastic value to our strategic and business goals and always have an immediate and cost effective solution or resource for whatever challenges we come across. I'm delighted they will be with us through to next summer".

New UK based eTextbook Aggregator, Reference Tree, is also launching its new platform to all UK higher education this week. Maverick have assisted Reference Tree from the beginning with both their strategic and operational marketing (including coordinating the launch), publisher relations and negotiation as well as business strategy development. Again, Maverick have now been retained to continue providing these support services throughout next year.

Innovative in approach, Reference Tree is supported by world renowned publishers such as Elsevier, Taylor + Francis, Sage, Hodder Education, McGaw Hill, Cambridge University Press and many others. The online service aggregates textbooks across a broad range of subject areas and enables them to be purchased by the chapter, in addition to the full text if required.

Amil Tolia, CEO of Reference Tree said, " "Whether advice on copy for marketing collateral or negotiating contracts with major Publishers, Maverick Outsource Services have been instrumental in providing accurate, timely and appropriate advice built on a deep knowledge of the industry and its major players. Reference Tree looks forward to continuing to build on its presence with support from Maverick Outsource Services through 2011."

In associated news, Maverick will end 2010 with continued expansion of both its international client base and operations. As well as the BQFJ and Reference Tree, other clients such as Springer SBM (strategic and operational marketing services) and The Charleston Advisor (technical strategy and production support) are also extending and expanding their use of Maverick's services in 2011. New clients also now include Oxford University Press' ELT division, who are using Maverick's specialist contract project management personnel to assist with their e-content production.

Maverick also continues to increase its resource bank of e-specialists and strengthen its Senior Management team. New appointments include Sara Killingworth (ex ProQuest) to head up its expanding Market Research and Analysis department and Tricia Horner, who joins this week as Senior Human Resources Associate following 17 years in director level roles for publishers including Blackwells Ltd, Nelson Thornes and Infinitas Learning. Finally, to support its expanding international business, new regional offices will be opening in both Asia Pacific and South America during the first quarter of 2011.

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About Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals
Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals (BQFJ), founded in 2009, is a unique collaboration, owned by Qatar Foundation and managed by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (www.bloomsbury.com), which focuses on fostering scholarly and research communication. BQFJ publishes a range of peer-reviewed and high-quality open access journals, databases and repositories through its online content portal QScience.com.

About Reference Tree
Reference Tree is a new eTextbook Aggregator focussed on the UK Higher Education market. Launched in November 2010 with titles from leading academic Publishers, Reference Tree's per-chapter model enables students to spread their investment in their textbooks over the year and provides a new digital revenue model for Publishers. Please see www.reference-tree.com for more details.

About Maverick Outsource Solutions
Maverick is the leading, specialist outsource services company designed specifically for the publishing industry. Focussed on providing strategic and operational sales and marketing; market research; product development and technical consultancy; direct sales and distributor / partner relations support for publishers in all market sectors, the Maverick team are publishing specialists with expertise across all areas of print and electronic information.