Sapient Announces Key Promotions in Its Award-Winning Interactive Practice

Business Wire, Oct 30, 2008

Former iChameleon Executives' Promotions Strengthen Sapient's Delivery of Brand-Enhancing Interactive Services

BOSTON -- Eighth graph, third sentence of release should read: "Previously, he helped create the interactive department at Crispin Porter & Bogusky, where he was one of the original members of its interactive team." (sted "Previously, he ran the interactive department at Crispin Porter & Bogusky, where he was one of the original members of its interactive team.")

The corrected release reads:

Sapient Announces Key Promotions in Its Award-Winning Interactive Practice

Former iChameleon Executives' Promotions Strengthen Sapient's Delivery of Brand-Enhancing Interactive Services

Sapient (NASDAQ: SAPE) today announced the promotions of three key members of its interactive practice--Freddie Laker, Rob Gonda and Juan Morales. All former executives at digital agency iChameleon Group, Laker and Gonda have both taken on the title of director of digital strategy, with Morales assuming the role of creative director. Working out of Sapient Interactive's Miami studio, the three executives will continue to help Sapient meet the diverse needs of clients, while ultimately ensuring the company's continued momentum within the industry.

"Clients require highly customized campaigns that are specifically crafted to meet their unique goals. The challenge for agencies is having a team that possesses both the creative talent and technology prowess to bring each individual campaign to life," said Sapient Chief Creative Officer Gaston Legorburu. "Since joining Sapient Interactive, Freddie, Rob and Juan have each played a critical role in our ability to deliver superior results--results which have been recognized by industry organizations such as the Web Marketing Association. In their new roles, all three will continue to create the cutting-edge interactive campaigns that clearly differentiate Sapient from other agencies."

Freddie Laker

As a director of digital strategy, Laker will design and implement high-level interactive campaigns for Sapient's clients, focusing primarily on the creative and marketing strategy aspects of the campaigns.

Laker has been pioneering various Internet-related ventures since 1995. Prior to joining Sapient, his most recent entrepreneurial venture was iChameleon, a digital "hot shop" he co-founded in 2004. iChameleon garnered industry accolades during its four-year rise, developing solutions for globally recognized businesses such as Guinness, Taco Bell and NBC, among others. Laker's diverse experience includes enterprise-level IT solutions, mobile marketing, search engine marketing and advertising. To date, he has led the creation of more than 1,500 Web projects, from financial institution applications to viral marketing campaigns. His personal blog, which he co-authors with Gonda, can be found at http://takemetoyourleader.com/.

Rob Gonda

As a director of digital strategy at Sapient, Gonda will serve as an interactive technical "guru," providing the knowledge and experience required to run high-level, multi-channel interactive campaigns that reach millions of consumers.

Gonda has more than 10 years of experience in Web development and 360 marketing campaigns for clients such as Adobe, Guinness, Toyota, Taco Bell, NBC and others. His areas of specialty include emerging technologies, marketing strategy, social media, rich Internet applications, service-oriented architecture, mobile, agile methodology, automation, behavioral targeting and multi-channel synergy. Before joining the Sapient team, Gonda was co-founder and chief technical officer at iChameleon. In addition to his agency work, Gonda is the former editor-in-chief of the AJAX Developer's Journal, co-author of "Real-World AJAX: Secrets of the Masters" and a passionate blogger who, in addition to the blog he co-authors with Laker, has a personal blog, which can be found at http://www.robgonda.com/blog/.

Juan Morales

As a creative director at Sapient, Morales will lead account teams of designers, copywriters and other creative professionals working on interactive multi-channel campaigns.

Morales began his career as a graffiti artist and has been able to translate that passion for art and expression into a successful advertising career. Before joining Sapient earlier this year, he was a senior partner and executive creative director at iChameleon. Previously, he helped create the interactive department at Crispin Porter & Bogusky, where he was one of the original members of its interactive team. During his tenure at Crispin, Morales worked with numerous name brands such as Burger King, Ikea, Taco Bell, Toyota and DeBeers and received industry recognition for his efforts, including winning the Grand Prix award at Cannes as well as a Cannes Gold Cyber Lion.

About Sapient

Sapient, a global services firm, operates two groups--Sapient Interactive and Sapient Consulting--that help clients compete, evolve and grow in an increasingly complex marketplace. Sapient Interactive provides brand and marketing strategy, award-winning creative work, web design and development and emerging media expertise. Sapient Consulting provides business and IT strategy, process and systems design, package implementation and custom development, as well as outsourcing services such as testing, maintenance and support.