Retail Forward Appoints Two New Vice Presidents to Management Team

For additional information contact:
Katherine R. Clarke
Retail Forward, Inc.
614/437-1021, ext. 109
kclarke@retailforward.com

COLUMBUS, February 19, 2003 – Retail Forward, Columbus-based retail research and strategy consulting firm, is pleased to announce that the company has appointed two new vice presidents to its management team. Dirk Defenbaugh has joined the company as Vice President of Business Development and Mandy Putnam joins as a Vice President.

“Dirk and Mandy have outstanding experience working with retailers and consumer products companies,” states Tom Rubel, President of Retail Forward. “Dirk’s proven business development skills and Mandy’s strong consumer research background make them valuable new members of our team,” he adds.

Defenbaugh has more than 16 years of consumer marketing and retail experience. Throughout his career, he has worked with such clients as Microsoft, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, E*Trade, CVS, Eastman Kodak, Hard Rock Café, Federated, Adidas and Chrysler. In his role as Vice President of Business Development, Defenbaugh is responsible for the sale of Retail Forward`s syndicated Retail Intelligence System® as well as consulting sales in the western United States and Asia. Defenbaugh serves as a member of Retail Forward`s Management Committee.

Most recently, Defenbaugh served as Partner and Chief Development Officer for Retail Planning Associates (RPA) where he led the marketing and client service group. His expertise includes marketing services experience in advertising, retail display and merchandising as well as retail management positions in the financial services industry. Defenbaugh is a frequent speaker at major trade organization events and has been quoted frequently in trade press on retail issues. Defenbaugh received his degree from The Ohio State University.

During her career, Putnam has led many consulting projects with retail and consumer products companies and published articles in the area of consumer trends and segmentation. As a Vice President with Retail Forward, Putnam is a key contributor to the company’s syndicated Retail Intelligence System®. She is also responsible for directing a variety of consumer research projects with specific emphasis on the company’s proprietary Customer Intensification Process.

Prior to joining Retail Forward, Putnam was Director of Research and Planning for Fitch, the brand consulting and design division of Cordiant Communications Group. She held a similar position with the company’s brand communication arm, Fitch: Ann Arbor. During this time, Putnam worked with clients including Wolverine World Wide, Giant Eagle, Duskin, New Line Cinema (Division of AOL Time Warner), Procter & Gamble, Ben & Jerry’s, Georgia Pacific, First Chicago NBD, Medicine Shoppe, Division of Cardinal Health, Pepsi-Cola Company, and Popular Mechanics licensing for Wal-Mart. Mandy holds a master of business administration from Capital University and a bachelor’s of fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has been a member of the American Marketing Association for many years and served as president of the Columbus Chapter.

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Retail Forward, Inc. (www.retailforward.com) is a globally focused management consulting, market research, and executive development firm specializing in retail intelligence and strategies. The company’s syndicated research and executive development program known as the Retail Forward Intelligence Program, provides members with an authoritative perspective on the retail and consumer products industries. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.