Toby Gabriner Named President of Carat Interactive

Toby Gabriner Named President of Carat Interactive

Former COO to Focus on Growth, Innovation and Integration

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Carat Interactive today announced the appointment of Toby Gabriner to the role of President. Formerly Chief Operating Officer, Toby's role as President begins immediately. Sarah Fay will transition to focus full time on her role as President of Isobar in the U.S. Launched in July of 2004, Isobar is a network created by Aegis to consolidate and integrate all digital entities under a single umbrella brand which includes Carat Interactive, Freestyle Interactive and iProspect in the U.S.

Toby Gabriner is credited with some of the most significant changes to the agency over the past year including tighter integration amongst offices nationwide, realignment of people and processes to better support client needs and a visionary approach to Direct Broadcast, bringing television, radio and interactive into powerful alignment.

Additionally, Toby helped develop and launch two of Carat Interactive's most successful service lines -- Internet Development and Performance Marketing, which includes search engine marketing. Through work with existing clients such as Kodak, adidas, and Wachovia, as well as with some of Carat Interactive's newest clients -- ScanSoft and Sonic, the Internet Development practice has grown over 300%, and is now working in conjunction with offices all over the world to bring global Internet development support. Like the Internet Development practice, the Performance Marketing practice also grew by 300% in 2004, further demonstrating Carat Interactive's commitment to offering services that are truly integrated, bringing more power to our clients' marketing efforts.

"In his role as COO, Toby has done much to move the agency forward," said Sarah Fay, President of Isobar in the U.S. "With incredible energy and dedication, Toby has been a driver of many of our most important initiatives, both internally and with clients, and played an integral role in helping us double our revenue in 2004."

"I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to lead Carat Interactive," said Gabriner. "Sarah Fay has done a phenomenal job of building a highly successful and profitable business, managing through both good times and bad. We thank her for her tremendous contributions, and look forward to continuing to work with her as she builds Isobar in the U.S."

Prior to joining Carat Interactive, Toby was President of Freestyle Interactive, where he helped develop a client roster across multiple industries, from Miller to Microsoft, from Toys R Us to Showtime. Freestyle Interactive was subsequently bought by Carat Interactive in May of 2003. Prior to joining Freestyle, Toby established the core project management methodology for ISL, an Internet professional services company. He also initiated and led their first global growth strategy in the European market, which included the acquisition of new business and the development of channel and implementation partnerships. Toby has a B.A. from Occidental Collage, an MBA and MS/MIS from Boston University School of Management.

About Carat Interactive

Carat Interactive is one of the world's largest interactive agencies with more than twenty offices around the globe. With North American headquarters based in San Francisco, CA, Carat Interactive has six additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas. Carat Interactive is owned by Carat, the world's largest independent media agency with more than $15 billion in worldwide billings. Carat Interactive clients include Pfizer, Hyundai, RadioShack, Kodak, PalmOne, and Gateway, among others. For more information on Carat Interactive's services, go to www.caratinteractive.com

Contact: Bronwyn Wormell
Carat Interactive
415.385.8859
bronwyn.wormell@carat.com


Source: Carat Interactive

CONTACT: Bronwyn Wormell of Carat Interactive, +1-415-385-8859, or
bronwyn.wormell@carat.com

Web site: http://www.caratinteractive.com/


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