Cedar Names FDA Executive Robert J. Byrd to Head Federal Government Practice; High-profile Appointment Marks Federal Agencies' Growing Demand for Cedar Services, Software.

Business Editors

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2001

Robert J. Byrd, a top official at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been appointed National Director of Cedar's Federal Sector Practice, the company announced today.

The high-profile, newly created position marks growing emphasis on the public sector market for Cedar, a global provider of consulting, technology and solutions. (Cedar includes the organization formerly known as The Hunter Group.)

Byrd is well known as a change agent and a leader in strategic management. Prior to joining Cedar, Byrd served as Deputy Commissioner/CFO for Management and Systems at the FDA, which is a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. "Under Bob's leadership, the FDA became known as a government model of far-reaching, enterprise-wide performance improvements," said Tom Rump, CEO of Cedar. "When federal clients seek our help in developing `e-government' initiatives, they will reap the benefits of Bob's extensive knowledge of government, technology, and management principles."

Byrd brings more than 20 years of experience in program and administrative management at the Federal and State government levels. During his six-year tenure at the FDA, he was responsible for all aspects of financial management, human resources management procurement and facilities management, and IT systems management for the 9,000-employee agency.

Previously, he held senior positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of Maryland's Department of General Services. Byrd holds an MBA with honors and a BBA degree from Loyola College of Maryland and has completed post-graduate studies at Syracuse University School of Management and the Harvard Business School. He will work from Cedar's Bethesda office.

"Federal agencies are under increasing pressure to improve performance and taxpayer accountability, while maintaining or even downsizing their workforce," said Byrd. "That trend, combined with Cedar's proven public sector expertise, positions us to partner with federal agencies to identify and help implement best practices to accomplish their missions more effectively. In a time when federal agencies are feeling many of the same market pressures as the private sector, I look forward to helping Cedar deliver a suite of services the public sector needs to meet current and future challenges."

Under the Hunter Group name, Cedar has completed projects for the Federal Reserve System,, Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), to name a few. For these and other government entities, Cedar has provided Concept-to-Completion(R) consulting services that improve organizational effectiveness--from strategic planning and vendor selection, through implementation of ERP, supply chain and other enterprise systems, to post-implementation support and training.

About Cedar

Cedar is an enterprise business software, services, and management-consulting organization employing 1,500 people in 45 offices throughout North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. With global headquarters in London and North American headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, Cedar provides business management, customer-relationship management, knowledge management, business-process management applications, consulting, and implementation services to midsize and Fortune 500 organizations.

Cedar leverages its extensive consulting services, product offerings, and partnerships to transform clients' businesses by helping them improve organizational performance and gain competitive advantage. More information is available at www.cedar.com or by calling 410/576-1515.

All names, trademarks and logos mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including availability of qualified consultants, integration of acquisitions, ability to sustain and manage growth, as well as the factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available from the Company upon request and without charge.