Barry Kluger named Prodigy Senior Vice President, Communications; Veteran Cable & Media PR Executive to head up new communications/public affairs group; Brian R. EK promoted to new post of Vice President, Public Affairs.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 1995--Barry Kluger has been named to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Communications, it was announced today by Edward A. Bennett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prodigy Services Company. Prodigy is a partnership of IBM and Sears.

Kluger, 41 years old, will report to Bennett, and will oversee Prodigy's public relations, press and public affairs activities, as well as internal and external communications, government public affairs, legislative liaison, industry and trade relations, pro-social initiatives and special events. He will join the company on August 7.

Most recently, Kluger was Senior Vice President, Communications, for MTV Networks' VH1, a division of Viacom Inc. He began his career at MTVN in 1985 and served in various executive roles, including Vice President, Public Relations, MTVN, where he oversaw all PR activities for MTV: Music Television, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite and VH1. Among his accomplishments were the communications and public relations activities for the launch of MTV Europe, Nick at Nite, HA! The TV Comedy Network, which merged with HBO's Comedy Channel, and the recent relaunch of VH1/Music First, where he assumed his recent post in 1991. From 1981-85, Kluger was Director of Public Relations for USA Networks, overseeing all PR efforts for the network's business, sales, sports and entertainment programming divisions. Earlier in his career, he served with March Five Public Relations, WHN Radio and WBAB Radio, New York. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from The American University.

In making the announcement, Bennett said, "Barry has earned a reputation in the media and entertainment industry as one of the leading communications executives, responsible for directing the public relations efforts for some of the world's leading and most recognizable television brands."

Bennett added: "His nearly 20 years of media relationships, as well as his keen sense of strategic positioning and understanding of new media technologies, will be a tremendous asset to Prodigy as we move into the next decade of growth. Having had the opportunity to work with him at MTV Networks, I am most excited that he will bring that same degree of professionalism and knowledge to our company."

Brian R. Ek, who was Prodigy's Director, Public Relations, has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President, Public Affairs, reporting to Kluger. Ek, 42 years old, will be responsible for strategic corporate positioning on emerging online issues, as well as all government affairs, legislative liaison, industry and trade relations, and pro-social initiatives.

Ek is a 10-year online veteran, who joined Prodigy in 1985 as Communications Manager. After becoming Director, Public Relations; in 1993, he initiated and oversaw a major relaunch and repositioning of the PRODIGY service, and contributed to the addition of several new service features, including multi media E-mail, the industry's first Web browser, and Personal Home Pages. Before coming to Prodigy, he held a variety of executive positions with BorgWarner, handling public relations and advertising for the five companies comprising its Wells Fargo security division. Prior to that, he was an editor and reporter with Gannett's Courier-News in Bridgewater, NJ. Ek has a B.A. in English from Upsala College, and an M.A. in Journalism from the Pennsylvania State University. Formerly of Brockton, MA, he currently resides in Brookfield, CT.

"I am excited at the opportunity to work with Brian, who has contributed so much to reshaping and repositioning Prodigy Service Company and the PRODIGY service," said Kluger. "His tenure and experience will be very valuable in helping Prodigy and the industry address issues affecting online business and its customers."

Prodigy Services Company markets the PRODIGY service, which is America's most recognized online network, with more than two million members. It is also the world's largest dial-up access provider to the Internet's World Wide Web. PRODIGY offers a range of news, weather and sports, financial information; education content; games; reference materials; E-mail bulletin boards, newsgroups and Chat; travel reservations; shopping, discount brokerage and online banking.

CONTACT: Prodigy Services Company

Mike Darcy, 914/448-8846

or [e-mail]

Carol Wallace, 914/448-2496

or [e-mail]