MELBOURNE, Australia, March 29, 2004 – Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s largest network of independently owned public relations counseling firms, elected a new group board chair and chair elect, named new Asia/Pacific and European Region chairs, and announced a new Asian partner at its annual meeting held in Melbourne, Australia, during March 10-13, 2004.

Steve Osborne-Brown of Hallmark Public Relations in Winchester, England, was named Group Board Chair. Other appointments include:

•Jim Sluzewski, Group Chair Elect, Public Relations Partners, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
•Tom Van Blarcom, Asia/Pacific Region Chair, TQPR Co., Ltd., Thailand,Bangkok
•Evelyne Martin, European Region Chair, Yucatan, Paris, France
•Jon Holt, Treasurer (re-elected), Holt, Mulroy & Germann Public Affairs L.L.C., Trenton, N.J.

Worldcom Public Relations Group welcomed Fulford Public Relations, based in Singapore, to its worldwide network of public relations counseling firms. Fulford Public Relations, established in 1999, has extensive experience in consumer and sports marketing.

The group also raised more than $5,000 at its annual charity auction. Chaired by Lore McManus Solo of Strategic America in Des Moines, Iowa, the auction proceeds will benefit St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne.

In addition, Worldcom Public Relations Group donated $1,000 to the Joe S. Epley Scholarship Foundation for Public Relations in honor of past Group and Americas Region Chair Joe Epley.  The foundation will endow Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Universities will award scholarships annually to junior or senior public relations majors.

About the Worldcom Public Relations Group
Worldcom is the world's largest consortium of independently owned public relations counseling firms. Comprised of some 100 partner offices, and growing, Worldcom has offices in 35 countries on six continents, more than 1,500 employees and revenue in 2003 of more than US $156 million.

Worldcom was formed primarily to serve national, international and multi-national clients needing in-depth marketing and communications support and expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the domestic and foreign arenas in which they operate. Visit www.worldcomgroup.com for more information.