Lisle, Ill. May 18, 2009 --- Gladson Interactive, the leading provider of product images, product information and category management services for the consumer packaged goods industry, has appointed Edward Franczek as senior vice president, database business unit leader and Steve Cole as vice president, marketing. Both are newly-created positions and report to Gladson’s president and chief executive officer, Mark Shapiro.

Franczek, who joins Gladson from the Nielsen Company where he had been senior vice president of marketing for the firm’s North American Consumer Group, will be responsible for the strategic development of Gladson’s product database and category management services, including sales, account management and customer relationships.

“We’re very pleased to have Ed join our team and help us implement and accelerate our strategic growth plans,” said Shapiro. “His deep experience in sales and marketing in a wide range of both business-to-business and consumer industries is perfectly suited for his role here.”

Over the course of his 25-year career, Franczek also has been executive vice president of marketing and sales for Goliath Solutions, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for W.W. Grainger, and vice president, marketing and general manager for a $600 million unit of Kraft Foods.

Franczek holds bachelor of science and master of business administration degrees from Michigan State University.

Steve Cole will lead all aspects of the firm’s strategic marketing activities including developing, positioning and expanding the company’s products and services and marketing communications.

Cole comes to Gladson from SPSS, Inc., a provider of predictive analytical software, where he had been vice president, solutions marketing. Previously, he had held senior marketing positions at Click Commerce, Forrester Research, i2 Technologies and Information Resources.

“Steve’s extensive experience in marketing and product management for business software and information services and his understanding of the consumer packaged goods industry makes him an ideal fit for Gladson,” Shapiro said.

Cole has a master’s degree from the University of Georgia and a bachelor of science from Lancaster University in England.

About Gladson Interactive
Gladson Interactive, headquartered in Lisle, Ill., is a leading provider of category management services to consumer packaged goods manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and brokers. The company’s core focus is on collecting primary information and package images of consumer products for a wide range of uses, including shelf space management, category management, logistics, advertising and e-commerce applications such as online shopping. The company also provides data analysis, consulting and in-store merchandising solutions that support successful planogram implementation as well as store design services.