Riney Enhances Integrated Offering With Introduction of Mobile Marketing Practice

31 May 2006

Publicis & Hal Riney today announced theestablishment of its Mobile Marketing Practice and the addition of DaveWhetstone to help create the practice. Whetstone is charged withdeveloping the agency's approach to maximize this important and growing newmedium. This move further illustrates Riney's commitment to enhancing itsintegrated offering for both current clients and prospects, specifically inthe areas of interactive, design identity and now mobile marketing.

"With the longest-standing advertising agency relationship in the wirelessindustry, we understand that mobile marketing comes with very specificchallenges and opportunities for marketers," said Karen Francis, ChiefExecutive Officer at Riney. "We're thrilled to have Dave's expertise andentrepreneurial instinct to help us navigate this nascent landscape. Hisdeep industry knowledge and active involvement with the Mobile MarketingAssociation will help clients capitalize on the exciting emergingopportunity presented by mobile marketing."

Whetstone operates as an entrepreneur in residence within Riney, where heis tasked with understanding each client's unique opportunities in mobilemarketing and helping to assemble the capabilities, platforms andpartnerships that will enable these marketers to maximize thoseopportunities.

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"As the overall marketing environment continues to change rapidly andmobile phones become more and more central to daily life, marketers areworking feverishly to figure out how to connect with their consumersthrough mobile devices," said Whetstone. "Mobile marketing is in itsinfancy with lots of possibilities but no clear blueprint. I'm excited towork with an agency that has a client base well-suited to take advantage ofthe potential of mobile marketing and a team with the creative spark neededto innovate and succeed in this emerging space."

Whetstone was most recently the Chief Marketing Officer of MobiTV, theglobal leader in television and digital radio services for cellular, WiFiand broadband enabled devices, where, among other accomplishments, helaunched the company's advertising sales business. He is also a boardmember of the Mobile Marketing Association, the premier global associationthat strives to stimulate the growth of mobile marketing and its associatedtechnologies. In his 13 years in the cell phone industry, he has anextensive track record of developing innovative services and marketingstrategies for wireless companies. Whetstone was a Cofounder and ChiefMarketing Officer of Virgin Mobile USA, where he pioneered the MobileVirtual Network Operator (MVNO) concept by creating and bringing to marketa unique, youth-oriented wireless service that now counts more than threemillion customers.

Before Virgin Mobile, he held a variety of senior marketing and operationalpositions over a seven-year period at AirTouch Cellular (now part ofVerizon Wireless). At AirTouch, Whetstone launched a number of newproducts and services, including the original launch of CDMA digitalservice. He also developed and rapidly grew the company's prepaid wirelessbusiness, taking it into new market segments and heavily into mass retaildistribution. Prior to AirTouch, he was a strategy consultant with Bain &Co. and Price Waterhouse. Whetstone has an MBA from the University ofMichigan and a BS from the University of Illinois.

About Publicis & Hal Riney

Hal Riney is a full-service creative boutique headquartered in SanFrancisco, wholly owned by Publicis Groupe, the world's fourth-largestcommunication group. Riney's clients include well-known brands such asSprint, WellPoint and 24 Hour Fitness.

Media Contact:Michelle MusburgerEmail Contact415.293.2254

SOURCE: Publicis & Hal Riney

Source: marketwire