CommonHealth Adds Senior Officer to Oversee U.S. Strategic Brand Marketing Initiatives.

PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 20, 1999--

Kenneth F. Begasse, Sr., Former COO of NCI, Joins Organization

CommonHealth, the world's largest healthcare-communications resource and a WPP Group (LSE:WPPL.L; NASDAQ/ADR:WPPGY) company, today announced the hiring of Kenneth F. Begasse, Sr., who joins the organization as executive vice president, chief marketing officer. Mr. Begasse comes to CommonHealth from NCI Advertising, a division of Nelson Communications, where he served as chief operating officer.

Mr. Begasse will help CommonHealth's clients address their needs by mobilizing the company's wide range of services and experience. He will be a key leader in the company's creation of new services to handle client and potential client needs in the U.S. marketplace.

"Our longstanding clients appreciate the brand-building power CommonHealth companies offer," noted Gil Bashe, chairman and group company CEO. "We needed someone uniquely equipped to convey to potential clients our proven ability to grow brands - an industry leader with knowledge of how patients, physicians and payers interact around a health-brand message. We found that strategic depth in Ken Begasse," he added.

Prior to his tenure with Nelson Communications, Mr. Begasse served as executive vice president and director of client services at Lowe McAdams Healthcare in New York, where he was a member of the team that won and managed the agency's Xenical(R) account. A veteran with more than 16 years in the healthcare-communications industry, he acquired experience in virtually every professional category early in his career, with stints at Medicus and Sudler & Hennessey, both based in New York.

"I believe that healthcare clients want communications partners who have creativity and integrity," said Mr. Begasse. "That's to say, creativity that is manifest in every aspect of strategy, planning and execution - and integrity to always do what's best for the patient and the brand. In joining CommonHealth, I've come to a place that has that same vision," he added.

CommonHealth comprises Adient, CommonHealth Australia, CommonHealth Europe, CommonHealth Kyowa, Enterprise IG Health, Gowers Advertising, Health Learning Systems, the Hill and Knowlton Health and Pharmaceutical Practice, the OZM Group and a partnership in China with the Ogilvy Healthcare Network, ProCom International, The Conectics Group, The Quantum Group, The Xchange Group and Thomas Ferguson Associates.

Med Ad News reported recently that "one (healthcare-communications) model has emerged with distinction: CommonHealth's organization," adding that the company offers clients "the most complete and flexible consortium of services."