Interactive Advertising Bureau -IAB- Names IAB Board Member and Ad Industry Exec Greg Stuart as Interim Head; Robin Webster to Take Leave of Absence.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2001

Robin Webster, President & CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), has been granted a leave of absence by the IAB's Executive Committee enabling her to take care of her 93-year-old mother.

Assuring continuity as the IAB continues to build on the year's momentum in developing resources, voluntary guidelines and educational initiatives that make the buying and selling of interactive marketing and advertising easier for its members and the industry at large, the Executive Committee has named Board member and long-time advertising industry executive Greg Stuart to head the IAB in the interim.

"Of prime importance is that Robin be able to attend to her family's needs free of concern. We certainly wish her and her family the best and look forward to her return," said Shelby Bonnie, IAB Chairman. "We are fortunate that in this interim period Greg Stuart is available to step in to continue and direct the many initiatives which the IAB is currently involved in. As a very qualified Board member, Greg is current on all of our initiatives and programs, and has been actively involved in many of them on an ongoing basis."

Greg Stuart has worked at a number of leading traditional brand advertising agencies in New York, including Young & Rubicam, Jordan McGrath and Partners and WRG BDDP, with such clients as American Express, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, Kraft, and 25 other major U.S. brands, amassing extensive marketing and media planning and media research experience. He began his interactive career in 1993, leading the Interactive Communications Group at Y&R's Wunderman Cato Johnson agency as SVP, General Manager. Stuart has also held senior executive positions or consulted with some of the biggest names in interactive marketing including Flycast Communications, AOL, Sony Online, Classified Ventures/Cars.com, and most recently served as CEO for a West Coast advertising technology start-up, DeltaClick, Inc.

"I am truly excited to step in to lead the IAB during these challenging times for the interactive advertising industry. We have a major opportunity to help our industry by bringing new tools and a fresh perspective. Robin has done an incredible job of taking us to the next level, successfully leading the evolution of the IAB into a truly professional organization, and actively leading us to not only meet members needs, but to identify new areas and issues to be addressed," noted Stuart. "I am completely committed to continuing to drive this industry forward for our members, and the marketers and buyers of interactive advertising and marketing."

"The IAB represents companies responsible for the bulk of the revenue generated via interactive advertising and marketing. Recent branding studies done by the IAB as well as member companies CNET Networks, Inc., DoubleClick and MSN have proven that interactive advertising and marketing works. We've published a glossary which defines over 300 terms, issued guidelines for new ad units and rich media ad units, and are well on our way to offering concrete solutions to measurement problems. The next phase of our activities will be to convince marketers to increase the interactive portion of their overall marketing mix," Stuart concluded.

About the IAB

Founded in 1996, the IAB is the industry's leading interactive advertising association. Its activities include evaluating and recommending guidelines and best practices, fielding research to document the effectiveness of interactive media, and educating the advertising industry about the use of interactive advertising and marketing. Membership includes companies that are actively engaged in the sale of interactive advertising and marketing.