NEW YORK-August 18, 2009-The Piacente Group, Inc. ("TPG"), a full service investor relations consulting firm with offices in New York, California and Beijing today announced that Kristen McNally has joined the firm as executive vice president. Ms. McNally's primary roles are to spearhead client operations and implement strategic programs based in the U.S. market.

Kristen McNally has spent her career in the fields of investor relations and corporate communications. Prior to joining The Piacente Group, Ms. McNally worked as an independent consultant for multiple IR agencies including TPG. Previously she was a vice president at Financial Relations Board, and earlier, an executive with Morgen-Walke Associates (acquired by Financial Dynamics International). She began her career managing marketing and corporate communications for Columbia Banking System, a Nasdaq-listed commercial bank.

Brandi Piacente, President of The Piacente Group, stated, "Kristen is a seasoned investor relations professional with deep experience in building and managing client relationships and executing successful programs for companies from mid-cap to micro-cap size across multiple industries. I have known and worked with Kristen for years, and I am impressed with the value she brings both as a skilled practitioner and as a well-respected team leader. We are delighted to welcome her to our firm."

In addition to overseeing client operations for TPG's U.S. based portfolio of clients, Ms. McNally is responsible for executing new business initiatives and program development for the firm's practice in The People's Republic of China. "It's exciting to represent such an elite and diverse portfolio of both U.S. and China-based clients and to be at the forefront of the agency's expansion plans in both markets," said McNally.

Throughout her past decade of work with several leading national IR agencies, Ms. McNally has counseled executive management teams and executed programs for over 60 public companies. She has represented companies across a wide range of industries, namely industrial and infrastructure, natural resources and energy, technology and electronics, bio-pharmaceutical and medical devices, consumer products and services, and financial services.

Ms. McNally is a founding member of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), a Washington DC-based non-profit organization. She is a graduate of the University of Washington.

About The Piacente Group

The Piacente Group, Inc. ("TPG") is a full service investor relations and financial communications consulting firm with offices in New York, California and Beijing. TPG represents a balanced portfolio of U.S. and China-based companies including the top two programs nominated for the "Best Investor Relations by a US-Listed Chinese Company" award by IR Magazine for 2008: Sohu.com Inc. and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. TPG develops and implements strategic programs aimed at broadening investment community sponsorship through best practice execution. The firm is dedicated to providing clients customized solutions in a dynamic investment environment. For more information, please visit www.tpg-ir.com.