Palisades Media Group Announces Major Staff Expansion; New Talent Boosts Firm's General Market Strategy

Business Wire, Dec 1, 2005

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Palisades Media Group announced today a major staff expansion, which began in September with the appointment of Bruce Dennler as President and Chief Operating Officer, and continues with the firm's most recent staff appointments, including three new Senior Vice Presidents and Director of the new Sports Division. Roger Schaffner, the company's founder, assumed the role of Chairman and maintains his position as Chief Executive Officer.

"Our vision is to continue to grow Palisades Media Group in general market categories," said Schaffner. "Bruce not only shares this vision but possesses significant strength in general market and is one of the best media planners around today."

"While known as a nimble, hands-on shop, Palisades has recognized that continued success requires depth in management, a continued diversification of services and seamless integration," said Dennler, who was previously Executive Vice President and Director of Planning for Carat USA, and recently served as the company's interim President. A leading authority on media planning, with 22 years of experience in the discipline, Dennler added, "As a result, 2005 has seen aggressive expansion and a significant investment in new talent across a wide range of disciplines to keep pace with the changing media landscape."

The firm's aggressive expansion strategy includes the addition of Linda Perry, Senior Vice President, Business Development, who brings a unique and powerful expertise in integrating traditional and non-traditional media. "Linda contributes a broad base of experience and relationships, along with the huge bonus of being a fire-tested expert in service integration," said Dennler. "Non-core services in our industry often exist as islands, afterthoughts or even internal competitors for client revenue. Linda's forte is helping to ensure that all disciplines are organized, engaged and excited to amplify the client's marketing communications."

In addition to extensive integrated marketing experience, Perry possesses tremendous in-depth knowledge spanning multiple delivery systems. For the past four years, Perry served as Vice President of the Western Region for Viacom Plus, where she worked with a number of national and regional advertisers in developing and implementing customized marketing solutions, with significant emphasis on creating unique product integration opportunities and developing promotions that increased awareness for high profile Viacom properties.

Meeting the challenges of the changing media landscape calls for in-depth consumer insight, and Barbara Smith affords Palisades Media Group a significant advantage in this area, bringing 20 years of experience in research and planning to her role as Senior Vice President and Research Director. Smith was previously the Group Media Director at Muse, Cordero, Chen and Partners, expertise that adds great depth to Palisades Media Group in the area of multicultural targets and media. Smith is a board member and formerly co-president of the Los Angeles Media Research Council -- positions that afford her a real voice within the research community.

Also integral to Palisades Media Group's expansion strategy is the ability to seamlessly integrate with live events. As Director of the new Sports Division and based in the company's San Francisco office, Matthew Campbell brings to the firm strong media planning and buying expertise, as well as extensive knowledge of sports-related markets. Most recently, he was an independent consultant, developing media strategy and placement for sporting events and sports-related clients, including Barclays Classic PGA Golf Tournament. He previously served as Associate Media Director for Odiorne Wilde Narraway Partners, where he developed strategies for securing innovative integration with high-profile sports programming.

As Vice President, Client Services, Heather Cohen offers Palisades Media Group clients diverse media experience, most recently as a self-employed media and marketing strategist for such clients as Mindshare/Media Edge, Phelps Group and Ground Zero. Also joining Palisades Media Group are Mara Greensweig, Associate Director, National Television, and Brandon A. Birkmeyer, account executive.

About Palisades Media Group

Palisades Media Group, founded in 1996, is a premiere media planning and buying company, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York and a staff of more than 85 experienced professionals. Palisades Media Group is comprised of entertainment, business/consumer, direct response/direct marketing, political advertising and interactive divisions, with combined annual billings of $600 million.

Note to Editors: Photos Available upon Request