President Clnton has appointed a 39-year-old woman to become the e-commerce czar for the US. Elizabeth B Echols has been appointed director of the Electronic Commerce Working Group, according to a report in the New York Times. Among other things, Echols' job is to stand up for consumers' right online and to create a "global e-commerce framework". Part of her portfolio will be to co-ordinate all the different government agencies which have an influence over the legislative future of ecommerce. In contrast, Britain's own plans to appoint an e-commerce envoy have ended in abject failure. Despite announcing in November that the Government wanted to appoint a "digital ambassador" to lead the country's bid to become the e-commerce centre of the world, nothing has been done. The decision has rested with Prime Minister Tony Blair since March. He is currently abroad on holiday. No one from the Department of Trade and Industry was available for comment this morning. ®