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PRIMEDIA's Consumer Guides Group Names David Crawford President and Chief Operating Officer; Also Announces Promotions of Key Industry Veterans.


NEW YORK -- PRIMEDIA Consumer Guides GUIDES - Gravity Universal Interactive Data Editing System, the country's leading publisher and distributor of free apartment, new home and auto guides, today announced the appointment of David Crawford to the newly created position of President and COO of the Consumer Guides Group, consisting of Apartment Guides, New Home Guides and DistribuTech. He will report to CEO of Consumer Guides, Bob Metz Metz (Eng. and Ger. mĕts, Fr. mĕs), city (1990 pop. 123,920), capital of Moselle dept., NE France, on the Moselle River. It is a cultural, commercial, and transportation center of Lorraine and an industrial city producing metals, machinery, tobacco, clothing, and food products.. Mr Metz will continue to oversee all groups under the Consumer Guides portfolio, including Auto Guide, Consumer Internet, and all corporate functions.

At the same time, the company announced the promotion of Arlene Mayfield to president, Apartment Guides. She will report to Mr. Crawford. James Moon was promoted to vice president, New Home Guides and will report to Mr. Crawford. Jamie Gallo promoted to President, Consumer Internet will continue to report to Mr. Metz. Robert McCray assumes the role of President of Auto Guide, reporting to Mr. Metz. Gary Austin, who along with Mr. Metz, oversaw the development of Consumer Guides into the successful company it is today, announced his retirement and will take on a consultancy role.

David Crawford, President and COO, Consumer Guides

Mr. Crawford most recently served as head of PRIMEDIA's New Home Guides and DistribuTech, the company's distribution arm. Crawford now adds Apartment Guides to his portfolio. At DistribuTech, he oversaw exclusive relationships with many of the country's grocery and other retail chain stores. Crawford, along with Mayfield, also orchestrated the aggressive growth and expansion of New Home Guides. Early in his 18-year career at Consumer Guides, Crawford was integral to the fast success of Apartment Guide, helping to make it the group's flagship product and model to emulate in launching new guides. Crawford brings a strong record of success in creating organic growth through aggressive expansion and product launches.

"We are thrilled to promote David to lead these groups into the next phase of growth," said Bob Metz, chief executive officer, PRIMEDIA Consumer Guides. "This is a true home grown success story that began with David's early achievements in creating Apartment Guides' momentum and high visibility in a competitive marketplace. His contributions to Apartment Guide helped cement its status as the most extensive group of apartment rental directories in the U.S. and under his impressive leadership, we have also seen significant growth for New Home Guides and DistribuTech. We expect to leverage his expertise and build out an even more robust offering in this segment."

Arlene Mayfield, President, Apartment Guides

Ms. Mayfield, previously vice president of New Home Guides will take over as president of Apartment Guides. Mayfield, in her previous role, oversaw 26 markets, including the Atlanta Databook. The group's national build-out, steady gains in market share and category-leading status can be attributed to her leadership. Ms. Mayfield started her career at Consumer Guides twelve years ago as a market publisher of Apartment Guides, demonstrating from the outset a firm understanding of this real estate segment.

James Moon, Vice President, New Home Guides

Mr. Moon will assume Mayfield's post at New Home Guides. In his previous position at the company, Moon served New Home Guides as director of new business development where he helped launch the Metro D.C. New Home Directory A disk directory assigned to each user on a Unix system attached to the Internet. It is the directory you start out in when you log on. It can be used to store temporary or permanent files, a user profile that can be "fingered," as well as lists of newsgroups that have been subscribed to. See tilde., the group's most aggressive roll-out to date. In various other management roles at Consumer Guides, Moon has hired and developed high-performance teams and achieved strong financial results.

Jamie Gallo, President, Consumer Internet

Ms. Gallo most recently served Consumer Internet as COO. She joined the company in 1997, spearheading the development of its robust portfolio of Web-based offerings. Gallo oversaw the successful launch of apartmentguide.com, which delivers more leads to its advertisers than any of its competitors. She has continued to build Consumer Guides' presence online, launching and integrating Websites to create an impressive cadre of complementary real estate resources.

Robert McCray, President, Auto Guide

Mr. McCray amassed an impressive history that combines advertising expertise with an acute focus on building relationships and visibility in the automotive industry. Prior, he worked as advertising director and general manager at newspapers in top media markets across the country. McCray worked closely with automotive dealers to help increase their sales and generate incremental gains in revenue for the various publications.

Gary Austin, Consultant, Consumer Guides

Mr. Austin announces his retirement after years of shaping and influencing the forward direction of the business. Austin assumes a consultancy role with Consumer Guides through 2006, including management of the group's growing roster of publications in various international markets.

Metz added, "We would like to thank Gary for his many years of leadership. His imprint can be seen at every level and in the impressive, overall growth of the company . Particularly with Apartment Guides, Gary showed great skill in building successful businesses and was instrumental in driving incremental and significant revenue growth.

"We believe that we have the right team in place for future success. All share a long history with the company, understand the model, and have the expertise needed to fuel our penetration and market position in the free publishing industry."

David Crawford commented, "I look forward to the challenges that come with taking on a broadened role at the company. Across all groups, we have strong and talented teams of executives in place to sustain the growth trajectory."

All positions are effective immediately. Rodney Barton and Derek Duhame will continue to manage the day-to-day operations at DistribuTech.

About PRIMEDIA

PRIMEDIA is the leading targeted media company in the United States. With 2004 revenue of $1.1 billion, its properties comprise over 135 brands that connect buyers and sellers through print publications, websites, events, newsletters and video programs in three market segments:

--Enthusiast Media is the #1 special interest magazine publisher in the U.S. with more than 120 consumer magazines, 115 websites, 100 events, 10 TV programs, 340 branded products, and has such well-known brands as Motor Trend, Automobile, Creating Keepsakes, In-Fisherman, Power & Motoryacht, Hot Rod, Snowboarder, Stereophile and Surfer.

--Consumer Guides is the #1 publisher and distributor of free consumer guides in the U.S. with Apartment Guide, Auto Guide and New Home Guide, distributing free consumer publications through its proprietary distribution network, DistribuTech, in more than 49,000 locations.

--Education includes Channel One, a proprietary network to secondary schools; Films Media Group, a leading source of educational videos; and Interactive Medical Network, a continuing medical education business.
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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Oct 18, 2005
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