LONDON, 01 August 1999. -- Text 100 Group plc today formally launches its new international PR consultancy - to-date known under the code name Ignite - as AUGUST.ONE COMMUNICATIONS. Marking a new phase in Text 100 Group's strategy, the new company will market its services both within and beyond the technology arena.

The appointment of the consultancy's UK Managing Director has also been announced: Tariq Khwaja, formerly Associate Director of Text 100, takes the reins from today. In addition, Sarah Howe and Stuart Handley - also former Text 100 Associate Directors - have been appointed as Directors of Client Services and EMEA respectively. They join Katie Kemp, former Text 100 UK MD who has already been announced as the company's President, to form the AUGUST.ONE Main Board.

The Board has revealed a two-fold mission for the new consultancy:

• To work with the world's largest and most respected brands, regardless of industry



• To found the company on the principle of ensuring a first class experience for all its customers

Tariq Khwaja, UK Managing Director, comments: "Today is an incredibly exciting day. With our heritage in delivering campaigns to some of the most demanding clients in one of the fastest moving sectors, we have a great deal to offer clients in all markets. We are opening our doors as a full service consultancy, offering corporate, business to business and consumer media relations, public affairs, analyst relations and conference services."

Khwaja continues: "We are setting out to make our mark by putting excellent customer experience at the heart of our consultancy - for our clients, the media, analysts and all other groups we work with. It goes without saying that we'll deliver great results. But we aspire to ensure that each of our customers finds working with us a rewarding, enjoyable and stimulating experience. We're passionate about this. It's being reflected in everything we do from today onwards: in the people we hire; the training we run; the technology we use; and the way every single member of staff - our PR and support people - work every day. This is no marketing fluff: we're banking our reputation on it."

AUGUST.ONE COMMUNICATIONS opens for business with 80 UK-based staff and a further 20 located in Ireland, Germany, India and South Africa. The consultancy's clients include GartnerGroup, Microsoft, Computer Sciences Corporation and MERANT, representing fee income in excess of £5M. The company expects to see strong growth in the UK and international markets.

For more information, please contact:

Emma Bowen-Davies Marketing Manager
Tel: 020 8434 5511
Fax: 020 8434 5711
Email: emma.bowendavies@augustone.com

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