SSPA Advisory Board Adds Key Executive From Cognos.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2001

The Software Support Professionals Association (SSPA) announced today the appointment of Perry Kelly of Cognos to the SSPA Advisory Board.

Cognos(R) (Nasdaq:COGN; TSE:CSN), is the world's largest and most successful business intelligence company and plays a mission-critical role in making their customers successful. Cognos solutions leverage Internet technology to make information easily accessible to employees across the enterprise, as well as the full network of business partners, suppliers and customers. The results: decision-making that is better coordinated across the entire organization, more effective customer acquisition, greater customer retention and improved business performance at e-speed.

"We're really excited about having Perry join our elite group of SSPA Advisors," said Bill Rose, SSPA founder/executive director. "His extensive industry experience and exceptional communication skills make a great addition to the SSPA Advisory Board."

Kelly, as director Worldwide Support Products, brings a wealth of experience as a key member of Cognos' Management Team. He has worked in the hi-tech sector for 19 years, the past 14 with Cognos in a variety of technical support and customer facing roles. In his current position as director of Worldwide Support Products, Kelly is responsible for the packaging and positioning of the support business for Cognos' award-winning Support Organization. In addition to conducting and overseeing competitive market research on the Software Support industry, Kelly is actively involved in defining the Web support strategy for Cognos.

"I am very honored to serve on the SSPA Advisory Board," said Perry Kelly director Worldwide Support Products. "Support is an important differentiator for software companies that understand the importance of helping customers become successful. Through their Support organizations, companies not only deliver invaluable assistance, but also build partnerships for success. In this fast-changing environment, the SSPA and its Advisory Board are playing a key role in helping support organizations position themselves as leaders in making customers successful."

As the support industry grows constantly and rapidly, SSPA continues on the leading edge of these changes. The Advisory Board Members provide SSPA with insight and the "pulse" of what are the changing needs of support professionals. The Advisory Board serves as a key component of the SSPA organization, helping guide the direction SSPA takes and roles SSPA plays for Members.

In addition to Perry Kelly, the Advisory Board Members include:

-- Tom Ableidinger, Director of Global Support -- Great Plains Software

-- Jerry Berger, Director of Product Line Marketing -- DecisionOne

-- Jerry Concannon, Senior Auditor -- Service Strategies Corp.

-- George Dale, Vice President of Contact Center -- SafeHarbor.com

-- Dennis Fukuyama, Vice President, Worldwide Customer Support -- Resumix Inc.

-- Bob Galley, Director Customer Relations -- SAGA Software

-- John Hamilton, President -- Service Strategies Corp.

-- Andy Kulakowski, Vice President of Customer Support & Services

-- Speedware Corp.

-- Jim Moore, Vice President Customer Support & Information Services -- Sage
Software

-- Donna Sayegh, Director of Technical Services -- Advanced Solutions
International.

-- Patrick Saeger, Vice President of Customer Support -- Mercury Interactive

-- Randy Selleck, Director Customer Support North America, The Reynolds &
Reynolds Company

-- David Voncannon, Director Customer Support -- Elite Information Systems

-- Bill Rose, Founder/Executive Director -- SSPA

About Cognos

Cognos is the world's largest and most successful business intelligence company. Founded in 1969, Cognos does business with 16,000 customers in more than 100 countries around the world. Cognos business intelligence solutions and services are also available from more than 3,000 worldwide partners and resellers. For more information, visit the Cognos Web site at www.cognos.com.

About SSPA

Founded in 1989, SSPA represents nearly 12,000 service executives in over 500 member companies worldwide. SSPA gives software service professionals opportunities to share ideas, discuss developing trends and network with their peers. SSPA offers its members conferences, seminars, specialized training, executive forums and a variety of publications. For more information regarding the SSPA and other related divisions, log on to www.supportgate.com building Internet service communities, or send an email to [e-mail].