Citigate Global Intelligence & Security Launches Chicago Office.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2003

Forensic Accounting and Financial Advisory Specialists

Bolster CGIS' Fast-Growing Practice

Citigate Global Intelligence & Security ("CGIS"), an international business intelligence firm, today announced it has expanded its Investigations and Financial Advisory Services Practice with the launch of a Chicago office. The Chicago team is headed by Managing Director Joseph Tomaino, a certified fraud examiner with over 30 years of experience as an investigator and auditor. Mr. Tomaino will manage delivery of CGIS services in the Chicago area, overseeing a team of five professionals who have extensive experience in fraud detection, electronic discovery, loss/profit analysis, corporate recovery and turnaround services, and forensic investigations related to embezzlement, conflicts of interest and insider trading, among others.

Prior to joining CGIS, Mr. Tomaino was a managing director in the Litigation Services Group of American Express Tax & Business Services. His 30 years of experience include 22 years with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and three years as a manager of audit and loss prevention for a Fortune 100 company. He has a broad range of experience investigating banking, insurance, healthcare, stock, accounting and corporate matters.

"Joe Tomaino is an insider in Chicago's legal community who has spent many years as a trusted consultant and advisor to the region's top firms," said Ernest Brod, CEO of CGIS. "The hands-on experience and strong connections Joe and his team bring to CGIS will enable us to hit the ground running in the Midwest."

Commenting on the launch, Tomaino said, "My team and I are very excited to be joining CGIS. We look forward to helping build on the firm's core capabilities, expand its client base and further establish CGIS as a leading provider of business and legal investigation services."

Mr. Tomaino has received the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industries "Excellence in Law Enforcement Award" and was nominated by the U.S. Justice Department for the national honor of "Federal Criminal Investigator of the Year." He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the American Society for Industrial Security, American College of Forensic Examiners and National Society of Public Accountants, and has lectured to various banking groups and several CPA societies throughout the country on fraud and litigation issues.

The Chicago Team

Tomaino is joined by Director of Governmental Services William Hebble, Director of Litigation Services Arlen Lasinsky, Director Glenn M. Wagner, and Director of Corporate Recovery Randall Wilson.

Mr. Hebble is a CPA and has over 23 years of experience in various industries as a consultant, auditor, controller and vice president of finance. Mr. Hebble is responsible for developing CGIS' governmental practice on a national, as well as a state and local basis. He has deep experience in corporate investigations involving accounting irregularities, failed insurance institutions, trust accountings and professional liability of accountants and lawyers. He was most recently a member of the Litigation Services Group of American Express Tax & Business Services.

Mr. Lasinsky has over 21 years of experience as an auditor, controller, chief financial officer and treasurer, consultant and investigator in many industries. He is responsible for directing commercial litigation services efforts for CGIS' Chicago office. Mr. Lasinsky has served as an expert witness in numerous cases involving commercial damages, malpractice, contract disputes and defalcations (misappropriations of funds). Prior to joining CGIS, he was a director in the Litigation Services Group of American Express Tax & Business Services.

In addition to being a CPA, Mr. Lasinsky is a Certified Cash Manager who has advised numerous companies on fraud and embezzlement matters, helping them assess controls for fraud prevention, implement new procedures, as well as uncover and assess damages. Mr. Lasinsky is a frequent speaker regarding fraud and cash management issues and has authored articles about the safeguards and warning signs for embezzlement, cash management and check fraud.

Mr. Wagner has over 26 years of experience in investigations, management and research. Prior to joining CGIS, Mr. Wagner was president of Intellicon, Inc. His experience encompasses a diversified investigative background in many industries including: aerospace, apparel, beverage, food products, gaming, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, paper, pharmaceutical, and transportation. During his career, Mr. Wagner has been involved in over 2500 business intelligence, investigative, research, litigation support, and security consulting projects. A member of the American Society for Industrial Security and a licensed private detective in Illinois, Mr. Wagner has held several management positions with Fortune 500 and transportation companies in which he was responsible for various marketing, operations, logistics, security, inventory control and supply chain management functions.

Mr. Wilson, a CPA and attorney, has over 14 years of experience in public accounting and financial advisory services. Prior to joining CGIS, he was employed by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche in their Reorganization Services Group, where he specialized in directing complex corporate recovery and turnaround services engagements, as well as select commercial litigation cases.

Mr. Wilson has extensive experience advising troubled companies, debtors, creditors and other parties in both in- and out-of-court situations. He has been involved in corporate investigations involving failed banking and insurance institutions and contract disputes. Mr. Wilson also assists counsel and their clients with developing business and litigation strategies, evaluating and implementing discovery plans, and developing forensic investigations. He is responsible for overseeing CGIS 'corporate recovery services, which include developing and implementing turnaround solutions for troubled businesses, evaluating plans of reorganization, evaluating operational and financial issues relating to debtor's businesses and developing and implementing strategies that return maximum value to CGIS's clients.

About Citigate Global Intelligence & Security

Citigate Global Intelligence & Security is an international business intelligence, corporate investigations and business controls/security consulting firm focused on helping clients meet increased intelligence and security needs. Founded by former senior executives of Kroll Associates and PricewaterhouseCoopers, CGIS offers clients seamless access to leading practitioners in the fields of business investigations, investigative due diligence, hostile takeovers, business and competitor intelligence, forensic accounting, business controls, commercial disputes, corporate and computer security, and crisis management. CGIS is headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Dallas, Chicago and Reston, Virginia. For additional information about CGIS, visit the firm's web site at www.citigategis.com