BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- IMS, the world's leading
information solution provider to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries,
today announced that Gilles Pajot has joined the company as Vice Chairman and
President, Europe Region.  He reports to Victoria R. Fash, IMS Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, who also serves as Executive Vice President of
Cognizant's recently formed Healthcare Information Services (HCIS) business
unit, of which IMS is the largest component.
    "Gilles' appointment is a key step in building Cognizant's HCIS unit,"
said Ms. Fash.  "He has demonstrated outstanding team leadership and executive
management ability in the pharmaceutical industry.  His knowledge of the
healthcare market provides an invaluable perspective on how best to expand IMS
operations, as we drive future growth."
    During his 23-year career at Pharmacia & Upjohn, Mr. Pajot held executive
positions of increasing responsibility.  Most recently, under his leadership,
Pharmacia & Upjohn's European operations grew to an annual turnover in excess
of US$ 2.4 billion.  He contributed significantly to the company's growth
through a series of strategic actions and major operational roles, including
leading the development of Pharmacia's growth businesses, spearheading a
number of turnaround initiatives, and directing local, regional and global
merger programs.  Mr. Pajot has served as Chairman and President of Pharmacia
France S.A., Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacia Biosystems AB in Sweden, and
Executive Vice President responsible for planning and implementation of the
Kabi Pharmacia - Farmitalia Carlo Erba merger.
    A French national, Mr. Pajot holds a masters of science degree in
biochemistry from Rennes University and a masters of science degree in
chemistry from Nantes University.
    In commenting on his decision to join IMS, Mr. Pajot said, "By creating
the Healthcare Information Services business unit, Cognizant has now provided
IMS with the vehicle to fully capitalise on two major trends - the
transformation in the healthcare market and the emerging information age.  IMS
is well positioned to become one of the major contributors to the advancement
of healthcare world-wide."
    With operations in nearly 90 countries, IMS is the world's premier
supplier of information and analysis, including market research, forecasting
and consulting services, to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.  IMS
is the largest operating unit of U.S.-based Cognizant Corporation (NYSE: CZT),
which integrates information and technology to create business insight.

                               Press Background

               Cognizant Healthcare Information Services (HCIS)

    On December 4th 1997 Cognizant Corporation (NYSE: CZT) announced the
formation of a new strategic business unit to provide global information
solutions to the healthcare industry: Healthcare Information Services (HCIS).
    Cognizant's HCIS unit is made up of IMS and the Emerging Markets Group.
IMS is the leading global provider of sales management, market research,
forecasting and consulting services to the healthcare industry.  Sales
management services track the sale of prescription and OTC drugs to the point
of final distribution in 30 countries representing more than 70% of worldwide
pharmaceutical product usage.  IMS market research services report national
usage by product and therapeutic class through pharmacy and hospital
distribution channels.  Key extensions to IMS services currently being
developed include prescription information services in Europe and geographic
expansion of electronic sales territory management services.
    IMS has over 40 years' experience in analysing healthcare market
information and is uniquely positioned to provide decision support services to
its clients.  These include pharmaceutical companies and all other parties who
have an interest in improving healthcare through evidence-based medicine:
governments and healthcare ministries, managed care organisations, medical
researchers and health professionals, pharmaceutical and other industry
associations, insurers and patient groups.  The company also records
developments in pharmaceutical legislation worldwide.  IMS consists of three
operating units: IMS International, IMS America, and IMS Japan; together they
have offices and information services in over 90 countries.
    Cognizant's Emerging Markets Group is composed of Erisco, Cognizant
Technology Solutions and Cognizant Enterprises.  Erisco is a provider of
software-based administrative and analytical solutions to the healthcare
industry.  Cognizant Technology Solutions is an outsourcer of software
applications and development services primarily providing Year 2000 conversion
services to major clients.  Cognizant Enterprises is a venture capital
business investing in emerging healthcare technology businesses.
    Victoria Fash has been appointed executive vice president of the new HCIS
business unit.  She also holds the post of chairman and chief executive
officer of IMS, reporting to Cognizant chairman and chief executive officer
Robert E. Weissman.  "Cognizant's strategic direction for growth is
healthcare," said Weissman.  "Our HCIS unit builds on IMS' pre-eminent
position to expand into the broader healthcare information market worldwide."
Cognizant integrates information and technology to create business insight.
Its principal operating units are IMS and Nielsen Media Research, the leader
in audience measurement for electronic media.

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