VeriSign Hires Agency Trio to Improve Marketing
Integration and Impact
New Agency Model Designed to Expand VeriSign's Global Brand and Customer
Demand
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- January 4, 2007 -- VeriSign, Inc.
(NASDAQ: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure for
the networked world, today announced that it has engaged two world-class
agencies from the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) and a technology policy
specialist agency to help the company expand its global brand footprint,
drive increased customer demand and build its industry leadership presence
around the world. The new integrated agency model is part of VeriSign's
broader organizational efforts to fully leverage its unique business
assets and capitalize on the growing market demand for digital infrastructure
services.
"VeriSign believes we've entered the 'Any Era'
– a major shift in the way people work, play and live as the world moves
from physical to digital," said Melanie Branon, vice president
of Corporate Marketing, VeriSign. "Businesses must now respond
to boundary-less consumer demands, from anywhere, anytime, over any
device, and the right digital infrastructure is critical to success.
To reach those broader audiences, VeriSign needs to not only deliver
great services and solutions, but we also need to drive targeted awareness,
differentiation and demand creation through integrated marketing across
multiple media venues. Together with our new strategic agency partners,
we expect to capitalize on the ‘Any Era’ opportunities."
As part of today's news, VeriSign has expanded its
relationship with global advertising agency McCann Erickson; announced
Weber Shandwick as its new global public relations partner; and extended
its work with technology policy firm 463 Communications. Both McCann
Erickson and Weber Shandwick are part of Interpublic Group, and 463
has strong historical connections to both VeriSign and Weber Shandwick's
PR team. The three firms will work together as part of a "brand
demand team" that will efficiently expand VeriSign's market presence
through focused customer insight, visible industry leadership and streamlined
marketing processes.
"We're excited to partner with Weber Shandwick
and 463 to help VeriSign pursue its compelling vision," said Dave
Boede, president of McCann Erickson Salt Lake City. "Very few clients
truly commit to the integrated marketing concept, and we believe VeriSign
is well-positioned to engage its business-to-business customers in innovative
ways that showcase the company’s digital infrastructure solutions for
media and entertainment firms, telecom carriers and enterprises.”
About the Companies
McCann Erickson Worldwide (www.mccann.com)
is the world’s leading global advertising agency network, with operations
in more than 130 countries and a client roster that includes preeminent
global marketers and many of the world’s most famous brands. The agency
is a unit of McCann Worldgroup, one of the largest marketing communications
companies in the world, which is part of the The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG).
Weber Shandwick (www.webershandwick.com)
is one of the world's leading global public relations firms with offices
in major media, business and government capitals around the world. The
firm specializes in strategic marketing communications, media relations,
public affairs, reputation and issues management, and offers corporate
communications counseling services. Weber Shandwick also provides specialized
integrated services including Web relations, advocacy advertising, market
research and visual communications. In 2006, Weber Shandwick was named
Large PR Firm of the Year (PR News U.S.), European Consultancy of the
Year (The Holmes Report) and Network of the Year (Asia Pacific PR Awards).
The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award for outstanding achievement
in public relations. Weber Shandwick is a unit of The Interpublic Group
(NYSE: IPG), which is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising
agencies and marketing services companies.
463 Communications (www.463.com)
is a strategic communications consultancy that specializes in helping
technology companies, associations and coalitions with their policy,
regulatory and public sector goals.
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) operates intelligent
infrastructure that enables and protects billions of interactions every
day for the networked world. Additional news and information about the
company is available at www.verisign.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from
those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential
risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future
revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating
results due to such factors as the risk that VeriSign's announced strategic
relationships, including the relationship described herein, may not
result in additional products, services, customers, profits or revenues;
and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information about
potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial
results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2005 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release.
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