Balihoo Names Michael Browner to Board of Directors

Balihoo to benefit from former GM Media Executive’s wealth of experience accumulated during an advertising and media career that spans more than forty years

Boise, ID; March 17, 2008 – Balihoo, the only on-demand media buying and planning platform that provides intelligent software-PLUS-services to media professionals across all mediums, announced today that Michael Browner has joined the company’s Board of Directors. The CEO of Marketing & Media Consultancy, LLC, Browner has an advertising and media career that spans more than forty years, including his renowned work as Executive Director in charge of Media and Marketing Operations for General Motors Corporation (GM).

“Michael is a leader in the advertising industry with a wealth of media and advertising experience and we’re thrilled to welcome him as a board member,” said Pete Gombert, CEO of Balihoo.  “We will look to Michael to provide executive level guidance and consultancy as we develop Balihoo into the choice for connecting advertisers and media content providers.”

Currently, Browner serves as a consultant to Polaris Ventures, LLC, where he reviews investment opportunities involving media and advertising. He also consults for Experience, Inc. and AWS Weatherbug, both Polaris portfolio companies. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director in charge of Media and Marketing Operations of GM until March 2004 when he retired to open Marketing & Media Consultancy, LLC.

During his 18-plus years at GM, Browner was responsible for directing all media buying and overseeing media plans for more than 50 brands. He managed the operations of GM Mediaworks and Local Communications, Inc. that negotiated all print, broadcast and online media. In addition, he was responsible for the creation and guidance of GM Cyberworks, a dedicated interactive advertising resource that provided strategic counsel, media planning and buying for GM business units. His efforts were credited with saving GM more than $1.5 billion during his tenure along with creating powerful relationships with major media and sponsorship partners.

Browner also directed the operations of GM Planworks, the agency he created to develop media plans for GM brands.  GM Eventworks, and GM’s regional and promotion/sponsorship agency, GM R*Works, also reported to him. These dedicated agencies are responsible for strategic development of major promotional programs such as GM’s Olympics and major sports sponsorships as well as implementation of all of GM’s local market and regional sponsorships.

Prior to GM, Browner spent more than 20 years in various media and marketing positions with leading consumer packaged goods organizations, including Lever Brothers, Dow Consumer Products and the N.W. Ayer advertising agency.

About Balihoo
Balihoo (www.balihoo.com), based in Boise, Idaho, is web-based software that streamlines the media research, selection, and request-for-proposal (RFP) processes with on-demand data, and then aggregates all that information into one easy-to-use single location accessible by an entire company. Based on the world’s largest database of advertising opportunities, Balihoo helps media organizations make faster/better decisions and create more effective media plans by helping them easily find, gather, analyze and share data. For media owners, Balihoo extends the visibility and accessibility of advertising opportunities to drive interest and sales.

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