Advanced Marketing Services Names Richard C. Freese President of Publishers Group West

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Advanced Marketing Services Names Richard C. Freese President of Publishers Group West

    SAN DIEGO, June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced Marketing Services,
Inc. (NYSE:  MKT), a leading global provider of customized services to book
retailers and publishers, today announced that Richard C. Freese, formerly
President and CEO of MBI Publishing Company, has been named President of
Publishers Group West (PGW), Advanced Marketing Services' global distribution
company.
    "We are pleased to have someone with Rich's great depth of experience in
the book industry take on the overall direction of our distribution
operations," said Michael M. Nicita, AMS President and CEO.  "His career spans
more than 25 years of service in various management and executive positions in
the publishing industry, encompassing all aspects of the book business from
sales and marketing to publishing and distribution.  His most recent
assignment was as President and CEO of MBI Publishing Company, LLC
(Motorbooks), based in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he successfully grew the
company's profits and positioned the organization for continued growth.  Other
companies for whom Rich has worked include John Wiley & Sons, Crown Publishing
Group, Random House and National Book Network."
    Freese succeeds Charlie Winton, founder and former president and CEO of
PGW, who is now Group Chairman and CEO of Avalon Publishing.  "Charlie created
and built a great distribution company and I am excited about the opportunity
to continue building upon his legacy," Freese commented.  "I am also extremely
excited about being an integral part of the PGW/AMS team and becoming a
driving force in formulating the strategic growth and direction for the
organization."
    In his new post as President of PGW, Rich will report directly to Kevan
Lyon, Executive Vice President - Distribution/Publisher Services at Advanced
Marketing Services.  "Rich brings a deep knowledge of the book industry which
will serve him well as he takes the helm at PGW," Lyon said.  "His background
and experience make him uniquely suited to work with the AMS executive team to
strengthen and grow PGW's business domestically and internationally.  His
experience in running a mid-size publishing operation gives him valuable
insight into the needs and concerns of many of our publisher clients."

    ABOUT ADVANCED MARKETING SERVICES, INC.
    Headquartered in San Diego, California, Advanced Marketing Services (AMS)
is a leading global provider of customized wholesaling, distribution and
custom publishing services to the book industry.  The Company provides a full
range of value-added services that provide AMS customers with book buying
advice and expert supply chain management, including advertising and
promotional support, to ensure the success of their book programs.  AMS's
proprietary Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) software is a unique tool that
allows its book specialists to efficiently and effectively manage global book
distribution systems for the benefit of its warehouse clubs and book store
customers.  AMS has extensive operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico,
Singapore, the United Kingdom and Australia and employs approximately
1,700 people worldwide.

    ABOUT PUBLISHERS GROUP WEST
    Publishers Group West, established in 1976 and headquartered in Berkeley,
California, is the largest exclusive distributor of independent publishers in
North America.  The company, acquired in January 2002 by Advanced Marketing
Services, Inc., has sales offices in New York City and San Diego.  Ranked as
one of the top 10 vendors of books in the United States, PGW represents more
than 150 independent publishers, who together are publishing some of the most
topical, innovative, literary and award-winning books available today.  More
information is available at the corporate Web site, http://www.pgw.com .

    Recent press releases on Advanced Marketing Services, Inc. are available
on both the Company's Website, http://www.advmkt.com , and on PR Newswire,
http://www.prnewswire.com .

    Forward-looking statements in this news release are made under the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  Certain important factors
could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the
forward-looking statements including factors discussed from time to time in
reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    For further information, please contact Investor Relations, Chuck
Williams, Director of Investor Relations of Advanced Marketing Services, Inc.,
+1-858-450-3545, chuckw@advmkt.com ; or Media, Greg McQuerter, or Tina
Wilmott, twilmott@mcquerter.com , both of The McQuerter Group,
+1-858-450-0030, ext. 140, for Advanced Marketing Services, Inc.

SOURCE Advanced Marketing Services, Inc.

http://www.advmkt.com

http://www.pgw.com
CONTACT:
Investor Relations, Chuck Williams, Director
of Investor Relations of Advanced Marketing Services, Inc.,
+1-858-450-3545, chuckw@advmkt.com ; or Media, Greg McQuerter, or
Tina Wilmott, twilmott@mcquerter.com , both of The McQuerter
Group, +1-858-450-0030, ext. 140, for Advanced Marketing
Services, Inc.