Y&R Acquires Consulting Practice of Capital Consulting & Research, Inc.; CCR President to Head WCJ Worldwide

Business Wire, April 28, 1998

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 1998--Young & Rubicam Inc. announced today that it is acquiring the consulting practice of Capital Consulting & Research (CCR), a leading consultancy specializing in business and marketing strategy, market assessment and segmentation modeling, and staffing services. Established in 1986, CCR counts among its clients the world's largest professional services firms, many Fortune 500 companies and a number of major management consulting firms. John (Jay) Bingle, CCR's President and founder, along with his consulting partners, will continue to operate Capital Consulting & Research as a unit of Wunderman Cato Johnson. Mr. Bingle, 51, will also serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WCJ Worldwide.

According to Ed Vick, Chief Operating Officer of Young & Rubicam Inc., "Clients are increasingly looking to their agency partners for all of the tools needed to create communications programs that drive business results. And technology is fast transforming the ways in which marketers relate to consumers. All of this means that the database marketing, or `one-to-one' portion of our business is where we'll find the greatest opportunities to really make a difference for our clients in the marketplace. By marrying the extraordinary business strategy, marketing and technology savvy Jay and his CCR team bring with WCJ's recognized leadership in the direct marketing area, we feel we have taken our offering in this area to a whole new level."

"Over the past few years, we have seriously considered many opportunities for an alliance of this sort," explained Mr. Bingle. "Young & Rubicam makes sense because they understand the importance of providing seamless, integrated solutions that drive business results -- and they understand the key role marketing analytics and strategic marketing counsel play in delivering these integrated marketing programs. The expertise of WCJ and CCR is complementary and should prove to be of real value to our clients. "

Mr. Bingle established CCR in 1986. The firm has experience in a broad range of industries, having conducted local, regional and global analyses for companies in fields as far-ranging as financial and professional services, health care, utilities and aerospace and defense. In recent years, an important emphasis at the firm has been in the burgeoning area of database marketing. Among its clients are: Arthur Andersen, AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, EDS, IBM, Merck, Microsoft, Netscape, PepsiCo, Price Waterhouse, Smith Barney, The Travelers and Xerox.

In a related development, it was announced that Barbara Jack, 45, Wunderman Cato Johnson's current worldwide CEO, would advance to Young & Rubicam Inc. as Executive Director, a new post, in which she will work directly with Mr. Vick to define and shape major emerging opportunities for the company and its clients. Commenting on Ms. Jack's new role, Mr. Vick said "Barbara will be moving into a major new management role in early 1999. For now, as we prepare to move into the public arena, Y&R Inc. is facing a vast number of big opportunities that require the full-time attention of one of our most senior people. That's why we've asked Barbara to step into this important interim position and help ensure that we are able to capitalize on as many of them as possible."

Ms. Jack's immediate responsibilities will include developing business with a number of major multinational clients, accelerating the agency's efforts in the area of event/sponsorship marketing and broadening Y&R's offering in multi-cultural communications. Like other senior operating executives at Young & Rubicam, Ms. Jack will continue to serve as Managing Partner on a number of global accounts. She will also continue to sit on the Worldwide Partnership Committee of the Y&R/WCJ Partnership and on the President's Client Council of Young & Rubicam Inc.

CONTACT: Philippe Krakowsky, 212/210-3165