Exhibit 99.2
Exhibitgroup Names New President and CEO
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2006--Today Paul B. Dykstra,
president and chief executive officer of Viad Corp (NYSE:VVI),
announced the appointment of John F. Jastrem as president and chief
executive officer of its Exhibitgroup/Giltspur (Exhibitgroup)
division.
Jastrem will lead Exhibitgroup's team of approximately 500
employees at more than 25 offices and multi-use facilities worldwide,
providing its clients with innovative experiential marketing and sales
solutions, including exhibitry, environments and full service
exhibition program management.
Dykstra said, "We are very happy to have John join Exhibitgroup as
its president and chief executive officer. He has great depth and
breadth of experience in the advertising and marketing industry and a
proven track record of leadership. After an extensive search, we are
confident that we have found someone who shares our values, and will
lead Exhibitgroup's growth and capitalize on its excellent cost
structure, which will maximize profitability."
Prior to joining Exhibitgroup, Jastrem was an executive with
Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC), the world's largest advertising and
marketing services company.
During his eight year tenure, Jastrem headed two of the company's
subsidiaries, Rapp Collins Worldwide, LP (Dallas) (RCW-Dallas) and The
Marketing Arm (TMA). Under his six-year leadership as chief executive
officer of RCW-Dallas, Omnicom's leading direct response marketing and
database management company, RCW-Dallas' revenues and profits climbed
significantly through organic growth by expanding service levels to
existing clients and through new client wins.
Jastrem served as president of Omnicom's experiential marketing
services agency TMA, which specializes in creating and executing
branded experiences using entertainment, music, sports and events
platforms.
He also served in a corporate staff position in the Diversified
Agency Services Group, a $4.8 billion division of Omnicom, where he
reported directly to its president and was responsible for special
projects, including acquisitions, restructurings and client
development.
Prior to joining Omnicom, Jastrem led a number of companies in
both consumer and business-to-business sectors. He joins Exhibitgroup
with extensive experience in sales growth, client satisfaction,
employee recruitment and development, growth-oriented strategic
planning, and acquisitions and divestitures.
Dykstra added, "I believe that Mr. Jastrem's experience as a
seasoned business leader will be invaluable to our company and of
great benefit to Exhibitgroup's long-term success."
Jastrem said, "I am impressed with the values the company
subscribes to and I am excited about the company's ability to service
clients virtually anywhere in the world through its global network. I
embrace the responsibility of being the "chief client advocate" in a
service-oriented organization and believe that we all must be
committed to understanding and meeting our client's needs every day.
Our key objective is to help our clients win. I look forward to
contributing to the company's success."
Jastrem has a bachelor of science degree in commerce and finance
from Wilkes University.
Viad is an S&P SmallCap 600 company. Major operating companies
include GES Exposition Services of Las Vegas, Exhibitgroup/Giltspur of
Chicago, Brewster Transport Company Limited of Banff, Alberta, Canada,
and Glacier Park, Inc. of Phoenix. For more information, visit the
company's Web site at www.viad.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
As provided by the safe harbor provision under the "Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995," Viad cautions readers that,
in addition to historical information contained herein, this press
release includes certain information, assumptions and discussions that
may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are not historical facts, but reflect current estimates,
projections, expectations, or trends concerning future growth,
operating cash flows, availability of short-term borrowings, consumer
demand, new business, investment policies, productivity improvements,
ongoing cost reduction efforts, efficiency, competitiveness, legal
expenses, tax rates and other tax matters, foreign exchange rates, and
the realization of restructuring cost savings. Actual results could
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements. Viad's businesses can be affected by a host of risks and
uncertainties. Among other things, natural disasters, gains and losses
of customers, consumer demand patterns, labor relations, purchasing
decisions related to customer demand for exhibition and event
services, existing and new competition, industry alliances,
consolidation and growth patterns within the industries in which Viad
competes, adverse developments in liabilities associated with
discontinued operations and any deterioration in the economy, may
individually or in combination impact future results. In addition to
factors mentioned elsewhere, economic, competitive, governmental,
technological, capital marketplace and other factors, including
further terrorist activities or war and international conditions,
could affect the forward-looking statements in this press release.
Additional information concerning business and other risk factors that
could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the
forward-looking statements can be found in Viad's annual and quarterly
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Information about Viad Corp obtained from sources other than the
company may be out-of-date or incorrect. Please rely only on company
press releases, SEC filings and other information provided by the
company, keeping in mind that forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date made. Viad undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, including prior forward-looking
statements, to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date
as of which the forward-looking statements were made.
CONTACT: Viad Corp
Angela Phoenix, 602-207-5608
aphoenix@viad.com