Grey Worldwide/SF Goes Ape Over the San Francisco Zoo; San Francisco Zoo Asks Grey to Help Rebuild Its Brand.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 2001

Grey Worldwide/SF, part of the Grey Worldwide network which is a division of Grey Global Group (Nasdaq:GREY), announced today it has been awarded the San Francisco Zoo advertising account. Grey Worldwide/San Francisco will manage all strategic and creative elements. Its partner company, MediaCom, will handle all media services, and Beyond Interactive, their digital agency, will direct interactive media.

As part of the arrangement, Grey will utilize its branding expertise to boost the Zoo's image as the 72-year old facility begins transforming itself into a modern conservation and education center. Grey is developing an ad campaign launch for late Spring that will include broadcast print, and digital marketing for Northern California.

"Just as we're rebuilding the physical infrastructure of the Zoo, we feel this is an appropriate time to rebuild the San Francisco Zoo brand as well," said Kate Mesmer, Director of Marketing for the San Francisco Zoo. "We presented our challenges and concerns to a few agencies, but in the end, we felt that Grey's track record in enhancing the brands of a broad spectrum of clients made it the agency best-suited to meet our needs."

"Grey Worldwide/SF is pleased to be given this opportunity to give something back to our local community," said Kieran Hannon, President, Chief Operating Officer for Grey Worldwide/SF. "The San Francisco Zoo is a local landmark that nearly every Bay Area native has childhood memories of. We're looking forward to helping the Zoo promote the next phase of its life and create memories for a new generation of families."

Alan Randolph, Executive Vice President, Creative Director said, "The Zoo's decision to work with Grey in many ways validates our two year mission to enhance the agency's creative cachet. We've been delivering exceptional work for a unique variety of clients, and those efforts are now being rewarded." "The San Francisco Zoo has embarked on an ambitious renovation and enhancement initiative to transform the Zoo and greatly improve the visitor experience on an emotional and physical level," said Randolph.

He also added, "As a former pre-Veterinarian major, I'm thrilled that we'll be helping The San Francisco Zoological Society communicate their vision to inspire conservation action and close encounters with nature and wildlife. Their goal is for every visitor to experience firsthand the principles and practical applications of conservation in ways that will impact their lives, and perhaps the world, for many years to come."

The Zoo is in the midst of a major remodeling project that features an updated layout of natural habitats built with the social and reproductive needs of the animals in mind. The new design also helps educate the public on the important topic of wildlife conservation.

Recent additions include the Puente al Sur (Bridge to the South), which introduces visitors to a host of Latin American animals, including giant anteaters, an Andean condor and capybaras, the world's largest rodent; the Australian WalkAbout, a multi-species exhibit featuring kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, and emus; and a walk-through aviary for Australian rainbow lorikeets.

This year the Zoo is opening its new Children's Center featuring an expanded Children's Zoo, new Connie and Bob Lurie Education Center, and Koret Animal Resource Center which will house the animals used in the Zoo's highly acclaimed education and outreach program. Next year the Zoo will open its new entrance with Zoo Street and Lemur Forest. Future plans include a new African Savanna exhibit and Great Ape Forest.

About the San Francisco Zoo

The largest zoological park in Northern California and one of the Bay Area's most popular cultural and recreational attractions, the San Francisco Zoo is home to over 250 species of exotic and domestic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Through naturalistic exhibits, field conservation projects, and educational programs, the zoo is building a center for conservation and education. More information and a virtual tour can be found at www.sfzoo.org.

About Grey Worldwide/SF

Grey Worldwide/San Francisco currently has billings of $185 million with 71 employees. Clients include: Oracle, Ask Jeeves, 24-Hour Fitness, Inc., Challenge Butter, Cyrano Sciences, Inc., Galileo Foods (a Division of Sara Lee Corp.), Globalstar USA, PMC-Sierra, Telseon, and GT Nexus. Grey Worldwide/SF is part of the Grey Worldwide network, the advertising agency partner company of Grey Global Group. With operations in 90 countries and billings of over $8 billion, Grey ranks among the top ten global advertising agency networks.

About MediaCom Worldwide:

MediaCom Worldwide, a partner company of Grey Global Group, is one of the largest global media planning and buying companies with offices in over 85 countries and worldwide billings of over $10 billion. MediaCom clients include Oracle, Warner Bros., Mars Inc, Seagram, P&G, Reebok, Glaxo SmithKline, Hasbro, and Subway.