AiMA President Joins Abovo Marketing Group as Executive Vice President of Interactive Services.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2000

Founder of the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association (AiMA)

and two Southeast interactive agencies brings veteran

interactive and advertising experience

Abovo Marketing Group(SM), an integrated marketing firm for aggressive business-to-business technology companies, today announced the hire of an industry veteran and pioneer, Matt Thornhill, to executive vice president of interactive services. In his new role, Thornhill will lead Abovo's efforts to meet the increasing market demand for exceptional interactive services tightly integrated with marketing communications and public relations activities.

With more than 18 years of experience in interactive services and traditional advertising, Thornhill will oversee the implementation of strategic interactive services for Abovo's integrated accounts. He will be responsible for fostering the firm's market position as the company of choice for emerging growth technology companies requiring interactive marketing. In addition to expanding the team of digital media art directors, Web designers and developers, Thornhill will be developing Abovo's interactive marketing and advertising capabilities.

Thornhill's team oversees interactive services for clients nationwide, including Air2Web, InvoiceLink, Loyalistics.com, Phyve and scheduling.com. Abovo Interactive's work is award-winning. Three of the sites it helped develop -- hsupply.com, FacilityPro.com, and foodbuy.com -- won Forbes.com "Best of the B2B Web," in July.

"Matt's outstanding industry reputation and innovative spirit are a perfect fit for Abovo," said Karen See, Abovo Marketing Group president and CEO. "His rich, established network of relationships and veteran skills will give us more momentum to aggressively develop our interactive services practice. We look forward to the exciting days ahead."

Last year, Thornhill founded Loose Gravel Advertising, an interactive agency in Atlanta specializing in online marketing, and within a year, sold it to Exile on Seventh, a San Francisco-based interactive agency. In addition, Thornhill helped start the AiMA and has served as the association's president from the start, growing it into a significant industry group with over 500 members. AiMA's goal is to help build Atlanta's reputation as a leading interactive community.

Thornhill's professional career is filled with the entrepreneurial passion. In 1998, he launched the Atlanta office of Rare Medium, an Internet development company, and pitched, won, and serviced accounts including The Coca-Cola Company, COOL by Nestea, and the United States Communications Company. Prior to that, he restructured and reorganized both the interactive and advertising divisions of Cadmus Communications, a $400 million printing company. In 1994, he founded Martin Interactive, part of creative advertising agency The Martin Agency, creating a $10 million interactive division which, in less than two years, became recognized by Adweek as one of the top 20 interactive agencies in America. During the next few years, Martin Interactive launched online efforts for Bell Atlantic, Marriott, Bank One, Gerber Baby Food, Steelcase and the Family Channel. His career started with a successful stint in traditional advertising in New York with Ogilvy & Mather.

"Abovo Marketing Group's interactive services practice was a natural fit for me," said Thornhill. "I was looking for an environment that thrived on breaking new ground and understood the role interactive plays in marketing today. With my experience and the talented team at Abovo, our clients will excel online."

Thornhill has been a featured speaker at the American Association of Advertising Agencies Interactive Management Roundtable, the AAAA Media Conference, the AAAA Interactive Summit, the Direct Marketing Association Conference, and on the Executive Forum television show hosted by Edwin Newman.

Thornhill received his BBA in marketing management from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

About Abovo Marketing Group(SM)

Founded in 1997, Abovo Marketing Group(SM) (www.abovomarketing.com) is an Atlanta-based, integrated marketing firm for aggressive e-business and technology-driven companies. Abovo provides strategic counsel and tactical implementation for business-to-business companies seeking optimum market value through integrated services including strategic public relations, interactive services, marketing communications and advertising. Abovo Marketing Group's client roster includes companies such as Air2Web, foodbuy.com, hsupply.com, ISS, ValuBond, WebMD and XcelleNet. The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently recognized Abovo as the seventh fastest-growing, privately held company in Atlanta at the 2000 Pacesetters Awards.