MSN Gathers Marketing Leaders at Strategic Summit

At the MSN summit today will be unveiled Microsoft's next-generation online advertising platform and MSN adCenter.

Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp., will deliver the keynote address at the sixth annual MSN® Strategic Account Summit.

"Microsoft's Strategic Account Summit is one of the most important industry events of the year for advertisers, publishers and creative agencies," Ballmer said.

On the industry forum held on Microsoft's main campus in Redmond, many of the industry's leaders will meet to discuss what will shape the advertising industry today and in the future.

MSN developed a two-day agenda within the theme of "Mastering the Medium," armed to help the more than 500 attendees identify opportunities to most effectively reach their audiences. Attendees also will gain insights into MSN's vision and strategy.

Industry-leading speakers in categories such as branding, direct-response campaigns and privacy will draw the future of the industry.
It is expected examples of innovative work, best results, trends and accomplishments to be highlighted at the summit to encourage the industry.

Speakers and panelists at the sixth annual summit include the following:

• Barry Diller, chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp.
• Mark Burnett, creator and executive producer of reality television programs such as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice"
• Dr. Eric Schmidt, CEO and chairman of the executive committee of Google Inc.
• Ted Meisel, president of Yahoo! Search Marketing and senior vice president of Yahoo! Inc.
• Ann Fudge, chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands
Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of the MSN Information Services & Merchant Platform division, will demonstrate the first component of MSN adCenter.

MSN remains committed to working with Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly Overture) and will continue to collaborate with it to offer high-quality search listings to advertisers.

adCenter is a new prototype of an MSN paid-search solution. New MSN advertising pilot program will begin within the next six months in Singapore and France to gather customer feedback.

The new MSN paid-search solution will be tightly integrated with other future capabilities to give advertisers a one-stop shop from which to plan, execute and adjust their online campaigns.

"At MSN we were among the first to realize the potential of branded experiences online when we formed our Custom Solutions Team three years ago," said Joanne Bradford, vice president and chief media revenue officer for MSN.

A replay of Ballmer's keynote speech as well as Mehdi's demonstration from the MSN Strategic Account Summit is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/msn/default.asp.