Before working at Hyves, I led a team of developers on the Eccky project at Media Republic. Eccky enables two people to make and raise a virtual child using the Web, MSN Messenger and their mobile phones. Eccky has been developed in close partnership with Microsoft and was introduced at the end of 2005 to the Dutch market. Before joining Media Republic, I worked as a strategy consultant at Lost Boys, Europe's largest Web design agency. For five years, I have been advising clients in many industries on how to use the Internet in order to build a competitive advantage. I have worked for Unilever, HP, ING, KPN/i-mode, MTV and KLM. Before working at Lost Boys, I worked in the advertising industry at Young & Rubicam's Dubai and Tel Aviv offices. I am a well-known and long-time blogger, primarily writing on technology and its impact on business, marketing and society. I blog at Yme's Thoughts and Ymerce.