SPi Publishing Expands US Sales Team With Appointment of Andrew Gates as Director, Sales

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - February 3, 2009) - SPi Publishing, a global provider of editorial, content production, and business process outsourcing solutions (BPO) for publishers and other information providers, today announced the appointment of Andrew Gates as Director of Sales.

Mr. Gates brings with him over fifteen years of sales leadership and customer relationship management experience in various publishing markets. In his new role at SPi, he will be responsible for managing SPi's sales team focused on the Scientific, Technical and Medical publishing segment and leading the team to develop broader and deeper relationships with publishers in this market. He will also be charged with helping SPi expand its presence in the Higher Education market.

Prior to his appointment at SPi, Mr. Gates worked with Questia Media America, Inc. as Vice-President and Member of the Executive Committee. He has also held senior level positions with Thomson Custom Publishing (now Cengage Learning) and Pearson Education.

Welcoming Mr. Gates to the SPi family, Mr. Rob O'Dell, President, SPi Publishing, said, "We are delighted to have an experienced professional such as Andy as a part of our team. Andy will play a key role in contributing to the growth of SPi. I am confident that his deep domain knowledge and executive level experience will enable us to take advantage of the untapped opportunities in the STM and Higher Education markets and to strengthen existing relationships with our current customers."

About SPi

SPi is a leading full-service BPO provider with offices and facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. SPi has over 14,000 employees delivering a wide range of Knowledge Process and Customer Interaction solutions to diversified markets, including financial services, healthcare, legal, and publishing. SPi consistently improves operating efficiency, lowers costs, and helps to strengthen the competitive position of more than 500 clients.

SPi is 100% owned by ePLDT, Inc. ePLDT, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines. PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PHP: TEL), and its American Depository Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PHI).

For more information on SPi, visit www.spi-bpo.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Elizabeth Nolan Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Marketing and Strategy (202) 449 7692