Prudential CIO William Friel Named 2001 IT Executive of the Year By Lattanze Center for Executive Studies in Information Technology at Loyola College

Business Wire, June 6, 2001

Business Editors

ROSELAND, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2001

Prudential Chief Information Officer William Friel has been awarded the prestigious Information Technology Executive of the Year Award for 2001 by The Lattanze Center for Executive Studies in Information Technology at Loyola College.

The IT Executive of the Year Award program was established in 1991 to recognize and honor executives who have made outstanding contributions to their organizations through the integration of information technology and systems. In selecting the award winner for 2001, the Lattanze Center Selection Committee choose Friel because of his solid reputation within the IT industry as a leader and an innovator.

"Our Selection Committee performed an exhaustive examination of the background and accomplishments of Bill Friel and his commitment to the information technology industry. We were impressed with the achievements of his 40-year career, the respect he has earned from his peers, and by the IT initiatives he has pioneered at Prudential, particularly the LaunchPad technology mobilization program which provided laptop computers to all of Prudential's insurance sales force. Bill Friel was our overwhelming and clear choice as 2001 IT Executive of The Year," said Lawrence Burgee, executive director, Lattanze Center, in bestowing the honor at a special Awards Dinner at the World Trade Center in Baltimore.

In accepting the award, Friel said, "I am honored to receive such a prestigious award for Prudential, my colleagues and myself. I am also proud to be recognized by a group that is dedicated to encouraging lifelong learning -- exploring technology issues and sharing experiences and solutions."

In a keynote address entitled "Paving the Road to Technology's Future" delivered during the awards dinner, Friel said, "The potential of the Internet to improve our social, business and personal lives is just down the road. Its possibilities are limited only by the creativity and imagination of those of us who build its infrastructure and ensure a trusted and safe environment with universal access for all the world's citizens. Our leadership will unleash this potential."

The Lattanze Center was formed in 1987 by the Sellinger School of Business and Management at Loyola College to provide a forum for discussions among IT executives on issues of importance to the integration of information technology and systems with the business strategies of their organizations. Previous IT Executive of the Year Award recipients include: Robert R. Ridout, CIO, DuPont Company; Dawn G. Lepore, CIO and executive vice president, Charles Schwab & Company, Inc., and Patrick S. Steele, senior vice president, Information Systems and Technology, Albertson's, Inc.

The Prudential Insurance Company of America, with more than $371 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2000, is one of the largest life insurance companies in the United States and is among the largest financial services institutions in the world. Prudential serves millions of individual and institutional customers worldwide and offers a variety of products and services, including life insurance, property and casualty insurance, mutual funds, annuities, pension and retirement related services and administration, asset management, securities brokerage, real estate brokerage franchising and relocation services.