IMG APPOINTS OLIVIER GERS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL HEAD NEW MEDIA AND CO-HEAD OF NEW BUSINESS UNIT, IMG ENTERTAINMENT

New Hire Will Lead Company's Worldwide Digital Media and Content Creation Initiatives

NEW YORK, June 27, 2007—IMG, the world's premier sports, entertainment and media company, today announced the appointment of veteran media executive, Olivier Gers, to the newly created positions of Senior Vice President, Global Head New Media and co-head of a new business unit, IMG Entertainment.  Gers will co-head IMG Entertainment with London-based Alastair Waddington, Executive Vice President—IMG Media.  Gers will be based at the company's New York headquarters. 

In his new role, Gers, who was recently named Advertising Age's 2007 Entertainment Marketer of the Year for his work on the American Idol franchise, will further grow IMG's presence in the digital media space and will help shepherd the company's entertainment production. 

Specifically, he will focus on both online and mobile business development and content creation across existing and emerging digital platforms and devices.  Gers will also oversee the extension of IMG's established sports, entertainment and media properties.

"Olivier's appointment represents another strategic executive appointment at IMG as we transform the company and create a balance between our representation of world-renowned global brands and the creation and ownership of entertainment properties," said Ted Forstmann, Chairman and CEO of IMG.  "IMG already produces some of the world's most exciting and innovative sports and entertainment content, and with Olivier on the team we expect to not only further expand the reach of our talent and event properties in the new media space, but to strengthen our position as a leading producer of a wide array of global entertainment brands."

Gers added, "I'm excited to be joining IMG at this time in its history, and look forward to working with a team of such talented executives to grow the company's footprint into new and promising areas.  IMG is perfectly positioned to work with talent, producers, distribution platforms and advertising partners around the world to create a new breed of entertainment experiences available on multiple screens."

Gers joins IMG from FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide where he served as General Manger.  At Fremantle, Gers oversaw the digital and commercial exploitation of FremantleMedia’s brands around the world, including the Idol franchise (American Idol, Pop Idol), The Price Is Right, Family Feud, The X Factor, DangerMouse, Prehistoric Park, Baywatch, Australia’s Biggest Loser, Got Talent and Pokerface.  He was also responsible for industry leading marketing partnerships and sponsorships, developing innovative ways to extend these properties into the new media space, including the American Idol PSMS Challenge and Atomic Wedgie, an innovative mobile comedy channel that launched on the Sprint mobile network in 2006.

Prior to joining FremantleMedia, Gers founded and led Odaddy.com, a website that put parenting into 'guy-speak' and was the first ever online community designed exclusively for fathers.  Gers also founded Fulcrum Group, a consultancy offering opportunity assessment, strategic repositioning and interim management services to companies looking to increase their presence in North America.  Fulcrum's clients included BBC Worldwide Americas, Broadway Video and the French online sports venture, Sport4fun SA.

From 1995 to 2000 Gers served as Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Manager for the Internet, entertainment and novelty divisions of Golden Books Family Entertainment, one of the world's leading children's book publishers.  Under his direction these divisions became the company's most profitable business areas, generating more than $50 million in revenue. 

Born and raised in France, Gers is a graduate of the Ecole Superieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales.  He received a master's degree in law and entertainment from the University of Paris.