Sarfaty Brings Decades of Digital and Traditional Media and Entertainment Experience to MWW Group

East Rutherford, NJ – September 8, 2008 – MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation’s top ten public relations firms, announced today that Ruth Sarfaty has joined the company as executive vice president and head of the company’s Media Strategies Practice. In this role, Sarfaty will help define, craft and deliver media strategies in partnership with account teams across the MWW Group network. Sarfaty brings more than 25 years of public relations and corporate communications experience to MWW Group.

“The intersection of media with communities that drive action – whether those are actual grassroots communities where people live or digital communities – has never been more dynamic. Understanding how to motivate media to activate a community behind an issue, a purchasing decision or even public policy is critical to business success,” said Michael W. Kempner, president and CEO of MWW Group. “Ruth’s expertise in engaging those communities at AOL and Yahoo!, coupled with her innate understanding of and deep relationships with the media, will be of great value to our teams and clients across the country.”

For the last seven years, Sarfaty has been immersed in the digital space at AOL and Yahoo!, where she was heavily involved in the promotion of online content, brand marketing, and advertising technology and. As vice president of corporate communications at Yahoo!, Sarfaty was responsible for a wide variety of advertising and marketing technology projects. As vice president of corporate communications at AOL, Sarfaty led the company’s New York PR office. She worked closely with top executives to shape messaging around new products and programs. Sarfaty spearheaded the PR for such signature projects as the Emmy-winning worldwide concert “Live 8 on AOL”; “Gold Rush,” Mark Burnett’s first online game show; the free Dave Matthews Concert in Central Park; and AOL’s sponsorship of the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show.

Before joining AOL, Sarfaty was a partner at Dan Klores Communications, where she directed its consumer practice, running integrated marketing communications programs for clients in consumer products, luxury, hospitality, food, entertainment, and other sectors including The Scotts Company, Piaget, Whole Foods, and The Smithsonian Institution. Sarfaty also served as vice president of Radio City Entertainment, where, in addition to managing PR for hundreds of performances, she worked closely with the executive leadership to manage corporate and labor issues. Sarfaty also spent ten years at Howard Rubenstein Associates and served as the PR director at Barnard College.

MWW also Promotes John Ratcliffe-Lee to Senior Digital Media Specialist to Drive Online Community Engagement

East Rutherford, N.J. – September 3, 2008 – MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation’s top ten public relations firms, announced today that as part of its ongoing commitment to advancing new platforms in digital engagement, Saurabh Wahi has been promoted to Senior Vice President for DialogueMedia, reporting to MWW Group President and CEO Michael W. Kempner, while John Ratcliffe-Lee has been promoted to Senior Digital Media Specialist.  MWW Group was among the first agencies in the public relations industry to establish a practice area dedicated to digital media communications strategy.

“MWW Group’s DialogueMedia practice combines the company’s world-class public relations experience with a deep knowledge of emerging technologies and trends. Digital engagement goes beyond understanding the blogosphere and online media to include transparent and leverageable relationships within social networks and communities that can be activated by tapping into common interests,” said Kempner. “Saurabh and John each have deep connections with such communities as well as the technological savvy and diversity of experience necessary to help our clients engage in ways that deliver significant return.”

Over the last three years, Wahi has played an important strategic role in developing digital media and social networking strategies at MWW Group’s DialogueMedia practice. These strategies are evident in work for numerous national and global brands such as Nikon, Volkswagen and Advanta, among others. As client leader for Nikon, Wahi has led the DialogueMedia team to strategize and execute award-winning initiatives that have been recognized by The Holmes Report’s SABRE Award and the International Association of Business Communicators’ IRIS Award.   In his new position, he will continue to serve as senior client counselor and will manage the DialogueMedia group’s strategic initiatives for MWW Group and its clients.

John Ratcliffe-Lee has been a force behind many of the most effective online initiatives undertaken by MWW Group clients such as McDonalds, Under Armour, ING Direct, Deloitte, Nikon and Volkswagen. Ratcliffe-Lee is well-versed in utilizing digital media tools such as blogs, podcasts, social networks, social bookmarking and content syndication tools to generate results. Always on the forefront of digital media technology, he has a passion for interactive marketing efforts that add value for brands and their audiences.

DialogueMedia works with MWW Group’s clients to ensure engagement that delivers results.  DialogueMedia strategies are integrated throughout all of MWW Group’s core practice areas: corporate communications, consumer marketing, public and government affairs, healthcare, internal communications, cause and social marketing.   The company has led highly successful digital media campaigns for brand name companies across a wide breadth of industries including Nikon, Volkswagen, Deloitte, Sara Lee Corporation, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and Gardenburger, among many others.

Global Fitness Leader Taps MWW Group to Lead Media Relations, Internal Communications, Franchise Relations and Brand Re-Positioning

LOS ANGELES – August 13, 2008 – MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation’s top 10 public relations firms, today announced that it has been retained by Gold’s Gym International as the company’s public relations agency of record.  A global leader in health and fitness for more than 43 years, Gold’s Gym has more than 620 locations in 43 states and 30 countries.

As agency of record, MWW Group will develop and implement a multi-pronged national communications program including media relations, internal communications, event marketing, partnership development and franchise support.

“Gold’s Gym is a great win for our firm, an iconic brand that is synonymous with health and fitness, both in the United States and across the world.   We’re excited to lend our counsel to help usher in an exciting new chapter in the evolution of this storied brand,” said Michael W. Kempner, president and CEO of MWW Group.

“MWW Group will be a great partner to Gold’s Gym, said Lisa Zoellner, chief marketing officer at Gold’s Gym International. “Their deep category experience, wide breadth of expertise and passion for our brand were evident from our very first conversations. We look forward to working with them to bring the Gold’s Gym experience to new audiences.”

About Gold’s Gym International
Established in Venice, Calif. in 1965, Gold’s Gym is the largest co-ed gym chain in the world with more than 620 locations in 43 states and 30 countries. Gold’s Gym also operates online at www.goldsgym.com and www.goldsgear.com.  Gold’s Gym offers the latest equipment and services, including group exercise, personal training, cardiovascular equipment, spinning, Pilates and yoga, while maintaining its core weight lifting tradition. With nearly 3 million members worldwide, Gold’s Gym continues to change lives by helping people achieve their individual potential.

MWW Group’s LA Office to Spearhead Communications Program That Will Include Strategic Media Relations, CSR Strategies and Executive Branding/Leadership Positioning

LOS ANGELES – August 13, 2008 – MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation’s top 10 public relations firms, today announced the addition of Mercury Insurance Group to the client roster of its Los Angeles office. The regional auto and home insurance provider has turned to MWW Group to help the company craft and implement a strategic communications campaign.

The communications campaign will draw upon MWW Group’s expertise in corporate communications, executive branding, employee communications, corporate social responsibility and strategic media relations.

“Mercury is a great company, a leader in the auto and home insurance sector, and an exciting addition to our LA office.  Our campaign will help Mercury raise awareness of the new programs that it’s offering to its customers and to underscore these services as a competitive differentiator,” said Coby King, senior vice president and general manager of MWW Group’s Los Angeles office.  “Our PR strategy will also focus on leveraging both external and internal communications channels to create excitement and deliver a consistent and impactful message to each of the company’s key audiences, while also raising the profile of Mercury’s leadership team.”

About Mercury General Corporation
Founded in 1961, Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization offering predominantly personal automobile and homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents and brokers in California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania. For more information about Mercury Insurance, please visit www.MercuryInsurance.com or contact Erik Thompson at (661) 291-6435.

Dance Company Retains MWW Group to Expand Awareness Among New Audiences

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – August 11, 2008 – MWW Group (www.mww.com), one of the nation’s top ten public relations firms, today announced the addition of the Paul Taylor Dance Company to its client roster.  For more than 50 years, Paul Taylor has been a dominant figure in dance and his company has dazzled audiences throughout the world.  The Paul Taylor Dance Foundation has turned to MWW Group to promote and increase the visibility of the Taylor Company, Taylor 2 and Mr. Taylor’s works.

MWW Group will spearhead an integrated public relations campaign to help the Taylor Company continue effective communication with its core audience of dance enthusiasts while broadening its reach to attract new audiences and increase performance attendance. To this end, MWW Group will promote new and existing works, as well as the Company’s U.S. and world tours.  Special media attention will be paid to the Company’s City Center season in New York City and its annual Gala in March.

“For more than half a century, Paul Taylor has been an icon in the dance industry and one of our country’s cultural leaders.  It’s an incredible honor to work with Paul and his team to help usher the company into an exciting new chapter of growth,” said Michael W. Kempner, president and CEO of MWW Group.  “Our strategy will focus on leveraging both traditional and digital media channels to introduce new audiences to Paul’s extraordinary body of work, while building upon the company’s existing dialogue with its core audience.”

The Paul Taylor Dance Company is highly respected worldwide by peers and audiences alike, and continues its commitment to performing in cities large and small in the U.S. and internationally.  Revered as an American pioneer of modern dance, Mr. Taylor has created a rich array of dances that are innovative and distinctive, resonating and connecting with each viewer in a meaningful way.  His dances have been applauded for their cultural and narrative relevancy, artistic beauty and physical grace.

About the Paul Taylor Dance Company
The world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company sets the global standard for contemporary dance excellence.  Since the company’s founding in 1954, Mr. Taylor has choreographed 128 dances, many of which attained iconic status, celebrated throughout the world.  The Company has performed in more than 520 cities and 62 countries.  Mr. Taylor continues to create two new works a year for his 16-member Company. His autobiography, Private Domain, was published in 1987 and the Company was the subject of the documentary film Dancemaker, nominated for an Academy Award in 1999.  Mr. Taylor has achieved countless industry accolades, including two of the nation’s highest artistic distinctions, the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts.