Marchex co-founder and chief operating officer Peter Christothoulou misrepresented that he graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in economics when in fact he did not. That's the latest revelation from San Diego stock-scam-artist-turned corporate-identity-checker Barry Minkow, who recently turned up the inaccuracy in the bio of the online advertising executive.

The information was changed on the Web site earlier this week after Minkow's investigation was disclosed in a report by Al Lewis of Dow Jones. Christothoulo, the subject of a TechFlash Q&A last month, actually left the UW in order to help care for his ailing father who later died of cancer. He returned to school, but never finished. In an email to Lewis, Christothoulou offered this statement:

"I attended the University of Washington from 1991 to 1995 with Economics as my declared major," he wrote. "Because of my father's battle with cancer and subsequent death, I was forced to take a leave . . . and despite returning and doubling up on my classes, I ended up one quarter shy of the degree. . . . I have always intended to complete the remaining classes, but with work and family obligations, I have not yet been able to do so."

A Marchex spokeswowman said that they removed the education references on the Web site for all the executives at the company. But she said there are no inaccuracies in their bios.

Leigh McMillan, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Marchex, said that Christothoulou has the full support of the company and the board.

"Pete is a stand-up guy, he acknowledged it and now we just want to go back to work," she said.

[Via The Seattle Times]