Erwin-Penland/Hill Holliday Named National Retail Ad Agency For Verizon Wireless

July 25, 2007

GREENVILLE, S.C., July 25, 2007 - Verizon Wireless announced today it has consolidated all of its nationwide local advertising account with Hill Holliday's Erwin-Penland unit in Greenville, S.C., along with Hill Holliday's New York office. Terms and billings were not disclosed.

Erwin-Penland and Hill Holliday New York office had previously handled retail advertising for Verizon Wireless in the southern and northeastern U.S., respectively. Under the new arrangement, the two offices will share strategic planning and creative duties for all local market efforts across the United States.

"Our work for Verizon Wireless has been a cornerstone of our growth, and we're both humbled and excited to be taking on this broader role with one of America's truly great brands," said EP President Joe Erwin. "We're appreciative of the confidence Verizon Wireless has placed in us, and we're thankful for the partnership we forged with Hill Holliday that helped make this consolidation possible."

The account will be led by EP Director of Client Services Allen Bosworth, who has helped turn a simple postcard assignment for local wireless carrier Metro Mobile in 1989 into one of the largest accounts held by any advertising agency in the Southeast.

By 1990 EP was handling all of Metro Mobile's marketing in North and South Carolina. As Metro Mobile was acquired by NYNEX, which later became Bell Atlantic Mobile, the agency's responsibilities also grew. When Bell Atlantic Mobile was rolled up into the new Verizon Wireless, the client consolidated its advertising to seek increased efficiencies. EP earned the Southeast Region account for Verizon Wireless in 2000, and a year later competed for and won the South Area business, which includes 11 states stretching from Texas through the Carolinas.