Brown-Forman Selects BrassRing's Outsourced Recruitment Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2003

BrassRing, the leading provider of talent management solutions, today announced that Brown-Forman Corporation, a diversified producer and marketer of fine wines, spirits and other high-quality consumer products, selected BrassRing's on-premise Recruitment Process Management (RPM) solution to manage its strategic recruiting and staffing functions. The RPM solution includes a suite of recruitment software and services managed by a dedicated team of BrassRing recruitment professionals working on-premise on Brown-Forman's behalf. In addition to BrassRing's category leading enterprise talent management software, the outsourced services secured by Brown-Forman have included:

-- Re-engineering Brown-Forman's recruiting & staffing processes

to centralize the recruiting efforts, achieve efficiencies and

apply industry best practices

-- Developing and Delivering a Change Management Plan to

seamlessly integrate the changes in recruiting process,

resources, and technology

-- Developing and Implementing Customized Sourcing Strategy and

Recruitment Programs to consistently deliver a diverse slate

of qualified, high-quality talent

-- Executing Brown-Forman's hiring plan to include full-lifecycle

recruiting, candidate/hiring manager communications, interview

logistics and offer administration.

Developed specifically for mid-sized to large companies looking to improve efficiency in the staffing process and reduce overall staffing costs, BrassRing's Recruitment Process Management services cover the entire recruitment lifecycle, including helping companies reshape their recruitment processes, optimize their employment web sites, develop recruiter competencies, track resumes, conduct candidate assessments and screenings and coordinate interview schedules for hiring managers. While BrassRing manages the overall staffing process, client companies maintain complete control and make all final hiring decisions.

"This strategic partnership provides Brown-Forman with a dedicated staff of recruiting experts who appreciate the importance of the process details and the strong communication needed between recruiters, hiring managers and candidates," said Jackie Strange, director of corporate human resources for Brown-Forman and leader of the joint BrassRing/Brown-Forman team. "Our primary goal with this approach is to build our brands with top talent and drive competitive advantage in the marketplace. We can already see that BrassRing's RPM solution is on track to help Brown-Forman build a stronger, higher performing employee base. By working with BrassRing, our HR Team has been freed up to focus on our other business and strategic HR initiatives."

Some of the benefits Brown-Forman has already achieved through BrassRing's RPM solution have included:

-- Cost Savings: By focusing on moving internal talent to the

right positions, as well as using the most cost-effective and

creative sourcing techniques, RPM is on track to reduce

Brown-Forman's sourcing costs by nearly $500,000 over last

year.

-- Time Savings: Recruitment Process Management has shortened the

hiring cycle to 52 days per position.

-- Broader Slate of Candidates: By implementing a centralized and

more comprehensive sourcing strategy, the RPM Team has been

able to present hiring managers with qualified candidates from

a broad range of industries, companies, and geographies, as

well as diversity sources.

"We're excited to be working with Brown-Forman because it enables us to leverage our full capabilities as a talent management organization," said Joyce Maroney, vice president of services for BrassRing. "Due to our technology leadership and recruitment expertise, we're able to be a one-stop shop for Brown-Forman, serving as their trusted partner in all matters relating to talent management. BrassRing is one of the only companies able to integrate a robust technology platform with the complete suite of recruitment services, and our work with Brown-Forman allows us to demonstrate our best practice staffing expertise."

Additional RPM functions handled by BrassRing talent management professionals include:

-- Designing and managing a client's recruitment website

-- Managing recruitment campaigns and recruitment advertising.

-- Designing and managing employee referral programs

-- Representing the client at recruiting events.

-- Creating an employee referral program

-- Performing workforce planning with the organization

-- Creating a comprehensive recruitment strategy including a

heavy emphasis on diversity recruiting

About Brown-Forman Corporation

Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, Korbel California Champagnes, Lenox, Dansk, and Gorham tableware and giftware, and Hartmann Luggage.

About BrassRing

BrassRing delivers talent management solutions that help companies engage people. The company offers clients a custom blend of recruitment software, talent consulting, and recruitment process management. The world's most diverse and successful organizations rely on BrassRing's talent management expertise to achieve competitive advantage. Investors in BrassRing LLC and its affiliates include The Washington Post Company, Tribune Company, Gannett Co., Inc., and Accel Partners. BrassRing has earned a number of prestigious industry awards, including Upside's 2001 Hot 100 List of Privately Held Companies, IDC's list of the Top 10 eRecruiting providers, Forbes Magazine's Best-of-the-Web 2001 directory, Information Week's Top 100 ASPs, HR Executive's Top 10 New Products of the Year, CAREERXROADS Top Online Employment Site and WEDDLE'S User's Choice Award.

For more information about BrassRing, visit www.BrassRing.com.

BrassRing is a trademark of BrassRing LLC. All other trademarks contained herein are property of their respective owners

Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, Korbel California Champagnes, Lenox, Dansk, and Gorham tableware and giftware, and Hartmann Luggage.