Bill Walker Joins First Research as Director of Research

Industry Intelligence leader hires sales and marketing veteran to manage product development, research operations

RALEIGH, NC – March 28, 2006 – First Research Inc., the leading Industry Intelligence company, today announced the addition of Bill Walker as its director of research. Walker is responsible for the management of research operations, including the development of the research and writing staff, new product initiatives and the creation and regular update of Industry Intelligence products. In this new position, Walker will work closely with Ingo Winzer, First Research co-founder and executive vice president of research. First Research Industry Intelligence provides strategic value and support to any sales team or customer facing organization’s efforts to connect with customers and prospects across multiple industries.

“Bill’s distinguished executive-level history in sales and marketing further bolsters First Research’s commitment to providing Industry Intelligence that will positively impact sales effectiveness,” said Bobby Martin, president and co-founder, First Research. “As First Research continues to grow and expand, Bill’s experience will be essential in our efforts to continue cultivating our products in support of sales teams’ ultimate goal of gaining and retaining more customers.”

Walker joins First Research with 25 years of senior managerial leadership and a proven track-record of success in product development and evolution. His experience includes 12 years with Hewlett-Packard as an industry and product marketing manager leading teams in the development of strategic initiatives to help the company’s sales force better understand their target market and improve sales. Walker has also managed marketing and product strategy for information technology products sold to the financial services, insurance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and outsourcing industries with such companies as Bowe Bell+Howell, Global Software and Performance Awareness.

“Industry Intelligence has proven its power to change the role of a sales professional from that of sales person to valued business consultant and simultaneously increase overall productivity and success,” said Walker.

Walker holds a Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in systems engineering from the University of Virginia.

About First Research
First Research is the leading industry intelligence company that helps sales teams perform faster and smarter, open doors, and close more deals. First Research performs the “heavy lifting” by synthesizing hundreds of sources into an easy to digest format that a sales person can consume very quickly to better understand a prospect’s business issues. First Research updates each Industry Profile quarterly and pushes out email alerts to ensure that content is both timely and top of mind. Customers include leading companies in banking, technology, telecommunications, business process outsourcing, and professional services including Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Sprint. Used by over 50,000 sales professionals, First Research can benefit any organization that has prospects in multiple industries. First Research is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.firstresearch.com.

###

Media Contacts:
Kristin W. Bear
Crossroads Public Relations (on behalf of First Research)
(919) 784-0445 (office)
(919) 349-1856 (mobile)
kbear@crossroadspr.com

Shawn Ramsey
Crossroads Public Relations (on behalf of First Research)
(919) 359-0947 (office)
(919) 621-0737 (mobile)
sramsey@crossroadspr.com