For Immediate Release
Media Inquiries: Sarah Malpeli
SMITH
(941) 315-1226
smalpeli@smithadv.com

SMITH APPOINTS NEW VICE PRESIDENT

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 25, 2008)—SMITH, a fully-integrated advertising and marketing agency with offices in Fayetteville and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Sarasota, Florida, recently appointed veteran industry professional, Michael Weaver, as the vice president of strategic services.

Weaver brings over 25 years of agency leadership, including his tenure with New York based J. Walter Thompson Company and Deutsch, Inc. As vice president and account director, Weaver took part in many memorable case histories, from Miller Lite to the Jeep division of Chrysler Corporation. Most recently, Weaver joined Anderson Communications in 2001 in Hilton Head, S.C., where he led strategy and brand development for five visitor destination brands including Hilton Head Island and Savannah. He oversaw new business acquisitions in a variety of client categories such as business aviation giants Embraer and Bombardier, and real estate icon Del Webb. He was responsible for the communication strategies of Memorial Health University Medical Center, First Federal Bank of Charleston, and the Savannah Economic Development Authority, among many others.

"We are thrilled to have Michael on board to guide the agency through a very important time of growth and development," remarked SMITH President Gary Smith. "His ability to involve and incorporate the views of key constituents in the strategic planning process, while adding professional insight and guidance, has resulted in lasting direction, with increased awareness and efficient conversion for future and current clients."

SMITH is an advertising and marketing agency driven by discovering what makes people who they are and what motivates their decisions, and then planning strategic communications accordingly. Headquartered in Fayetteville, N.C., the 34-year-old firm has offices in Raleigh, N.C. and Sarasota, Fla., offering fully-integrated services that include brand development, account planning, marketing research, interactive services and public relations.

SMITH's clients include regional, national and global companies in travel and tourism, healthcare, consumer products, real estate and financial services. The SMITH team has honed its planning and creative skills on blue-chip and Fortune 500 brands including Hershey, BMW, Coca-Cola, ESPN, WebMD, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and American Express, as well as leading travel destinations such as Hilton Head Island, Pinehurst, Augusta, Sarasota, and Asheville. SMITH is also a corporate partner and the agency of record for the Southeast Tourism Society.

For more information on SMITH, call (800) 421-1973 ext. 3107 or visit www.smithadv.com.