AOL's Platform-A Expands Midwest Advertising Team.

NEW YORK -- AOL's Platform-A announced the expansion of its Midwest office, headquartered in Chicago. The expansion includes the addition of three key sales executives, including a former Yahoo! advertising sales executive. The growth reflects Platform-A's commitment to major Midwest advertisers and verticals. Platform-A, http://www.platform-a.com, is AOL's digital advertising business.

Platform-A's Midwest team will be led by Vice President of Sales Rick Simmons. He joins Platform-A after three years with AOL Media Networks, where he built strong relationships with clients across Michigan, Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Simmons' sales experience covers Midwestern stronghold industries in both automotive and non-automotive sectors. He also spent nearly a decade as Detroit Sales Director for MONEY and PEOPLE magazines, building revenues to record levels in multiple years.

"This is clearly an exciting time at Platform-A as it makes rapid progress toward becoming the most effective and efficient marketplace for the buying and selling of digital advertising," said Simmons. "The Midwest region promises to be a focal point of Platform-A's growth, and we now have the team and resources in place to make the most of the opportunity."

Reporting to Simmons in the Midwest is former Yahoo! sales executive Craig Schumacher, who has been named Chicago regional sales director.

Schumacher brings nearly 20 years experience in advertising sales in the Midwest, including knowledge, relationships and skills honed over his nearly three years as strategic account director at Yahoo! In addition, Schumacher spent four years in sales management at ESPN/ABC Sports and has held sales roles within diverse media companies including Launch Media, drDrew.com, NetZero and E! Entertainment Television.

"Craig has a proven talent for building relationships and business across a broad spectrum of media," said Simmons. "As Platform-A continues to expand its portfolio of services and technologies, we'll benefit from his ability to deliver results in dynamic environments."

Also joining the Midwest team after two years with AOL and 11 years as Detroit Advertising Sales Director for Sports Illustrated is Tina Ienna, who has been named Regional Vice President in charge of Platform-A's Detroit office. Ienna brings more than 20 years of market-specific media sales experience to Platform-A.

"Tina is highly respected among advertisers in the Detroit area and beyond. She brings us specialized expertise built over nearly two decades in this unique market," said Simmons. "She will be an excellent ambassador to our clients in this region as we continue to grow our business here."

AOL launched Platform-A in 2007, strategically merging six complementary advertising companies to create the industry's largest and most sophisticated digital advertising platform. Combining the strengths of Advertising.com, Quigo, TACODA, Third Screen Media, buy.at and ADTECH with those of AOL's existing sales team, Platform-A now provides a full suite of branding and performance solutions powered by the Web's best technologies.

About Platform-A

Platform-A, AOL's advertising business, is the industry's largest digital advertising platform, offering the most comprehensive suite of marketing solutions, powered by the Web's best advertising technologies. Platform-A includes AOL's leading media properties - AOL.com, AIM, MapQuest, and more - and Advertising.com's third-party networks. Platform-A also includes TACODA's audience insights and behavioral targeting; Quigo, a site- and content-targeting solution; ADTECH, an international digital ad serving business; Third Screen Media, a mobile ad serving network; and buy.at, an affiliate marketing solution. Platform-A currently has operations in the United States, nine countries across Europe, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and Japan through a joint venture with Mitsui.