New practice unique provider of customized solutions using leading-edge technology for marketing and branding applications

Boston, MA (August 27, 2002) - Aquent's Consulting division announces the launch of its Marketing and Branding Technologies (MBT) practice, expanding its customized technology solutions to include marketing and branding disciplines. Aquent is the only global company offering consulting services focused on the selection and integration of best in class marketing solutions for large corporations.

"Marketing organizations within the Global 2000 have a tremendous opportunity to improve efficiencies and drive revenue through the use of new technologies," says Chris Moody, Vice President of Aquent Consulting. "The challenge facing a typical VP of Marketing is knowing which of these new products is right for his or her business. There are hundreds of products to evaluate.

"Assuming that a marketing organization can keep abreast of all the new technologies and select the right product(s), it is then faced with the challenges of customizing and integrating these new technologies into its existing CRM, ERP and other critical corporate applications.

Continues Moody, "Dealing with all the technical challenges of implementing new solutions is a lot to ask of someone who is responsible for marketing. That's where Aquent's Marketing and Branding Technologies practice can help. We come in and assess a client's specific technical needs in the marketing and branding arena and develop solutions using a combination of off-the-shelf products and custom solutions.

"We don't actually sell any products. Instead, we help organizations determine which products are right for them and then customize those products to work in their environment. Unlike most product companies, Aquent Consulting has tremendous systems integration capabilities. We have completed hundreds of IT projects involving the integration of complex corporate systems. Systems integration is a core competency for us."

Some of the key focus areas provided by Aquent's MBT practice include:

• Digital Asset Management - Providing services to efficiently handle the storing, searching, and retrieving of digital assets (e.g., images, logos, sound and movie clips, documents).
• Brand Identity Management - Using web-based tools to manage brand standards and usage guidelines, color information, and brand history, and the provision of logos, templates, and other material.
• Digital Workflow - Giving companies the ability to initiate, manage, and track projects and resources directly from their desktop, via a web browser.
• Dynamic Ad Creation - Providing clients with web tools to customize approved templates and create print-ready advertisements.

Aquent's launch of its Marketing and Branding Technologies practice comes on the heels of its recent acquisition of this practice from Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG). Four key executives with KPG joined Aquent Consulting as part of the acquisition to launch Aquent's MBT practice: Patrick Campbell, Managing Consultant; Mark Peterson, Senior Consultant; Eileen Smith, Consultant; and Matt Kollmorgen, Director of Business Development.

"We have a team in place that has successfully delivered over 600 customized technology solutions during the past three years," says Moody. "We are expanding the capabilities of the practice and adding to the technical aptitude of the team with the hiring of additional experts in marketing technology."

As Vice President of Aquent Consulting, Moody has overall responsibility for this business unit of Aquent, which includes the MBT practice. Most recently, Moody served as Aquent's Chief Operating Officer, a post he was promoted to in 2001. He joined Aquent in 1999 as its Chief Information Officer. He began his career in 1990 at EDS where he worked for five years designing software and systems for engineers in the automotive and utility industries. He subsequently spent two years with Oracle's Change Management practice consulting with Fortune 500 executives on the organizational changes brought about by major process and system changes. He then joined IBM's consulting team working with clients in IBM's Travel and Transportation vertical. A graduate of Auburn University, Moody earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1990.

As Managing Consultant, Campbell is responsible for managing existing client relationships and projects. He brings to the MBT practice more than 20 years in marketing and professional services. As MBT's Senior Consultant, Peterson has over 25 years in a wide variety of imaging science and new product introduction positioning. Smith brings her experience in IT, creative production, and project management positions to her post as Consultant with MBT. And, as an 11-year veteran of the sales and technology solution-based industries, Kollmorgen is responsible for developing the practice's client base.

About Aquent:
Aquent (aquent.com) is a privately held professional services company with nearly 70 offices in 15 countries. Aquent focuses on IT and Creative Services, and provides a wide range of consulting, outsourcing, and staffing solutions for Global 1000 companies. Aquent was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.