Verizon Wireless Names Three Premier Ad Agencies For Nationwide Continuity Of Local Market Advertising

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless today announced that three premier advertising and brand agencies — Hill Holliday, Global Hue and Zenith — have been selected to provide account service and creative support to advertising efforts in Verizon Wireless' local markets nationwide.

Beginning today:

• Hill Holliday will be responsible for the strategy and creative support for all local advertising. The account will be handled by Hill Holliday's Erwin-Penland unit in Greenville, S.C., which previously handled retail marketing duties for Verizon Wireless in the southern United States; and Hill Holliday — New York, which had similar responsibilities for Verizon Wireless in the northeastern United States.
• Detroit-based Global Hue, in an extension of its role as multicultural agency for national advertising, will be the lead multicultural agency for the company's local markets.
• Zenith — New York, currently responsible for national advertising media planning and buying, will add to its duties the coordination and support of local efforts in markets throughout the country.

The three agencies now exclusively supporting Verizon Wireless' regional efforts will be called upon to ensure the company's brand strategy and messaging is consistent in all local newspaper, radio, outdoor and business advertising. Previously, eight agencies managed Verizon Wireless' local advertising effort.

"In the eyes of the consumer, Verizon Wireless has always been known for its network reliability and its quality communications products and services," said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. "With this line-up of agency talent, we will enhance our national branding and advertising efforts with an even stronger coordinated effort on the local level."

Verizon Wireless' new agency line-up builds upon parent company Verizon Communications' recent creation of a team of the nation's leading brand and advertising agencies to handle account services and creative support for Verizon Communications, Verizon Business and Verizon Wireless. Information on that announcement can be found at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/news/article/2007/05/pr2007-05-18.html.  

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 62.1 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 67,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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