FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Corporate Communications 214/854-3190   BLOCKBUSTER® ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS AND NEW APPOINTMENTS Increased Popularity in Games Sparks Extended Rental Period DALLAS, December 22, 1997 -BLOCKBUSTER®, the leading global brand name in home video rental, announced several appointments and promotions in departments including operations, marketing, advertising, merchandising and public relations. Michael K. Roemer will head up Video Operations as a Senior Vice President. Prior to joining Blockbuster, Roemer consulted with companies such as Frito Lay where he assisted with new product development, distribution and business process planning. Prior to consulting, he worked 29 years with The Southland Corporation, where he oversaw operations of all 7-Eleven U.S. stores, then headed marketing and merchandising for both the United States and Canada. As Senior Vice President of Marketing, George Williams will head a new team responsible for developing and executing the company's direct marketing, membership services, field marketing, sales and partnership and events marketing programs. Williams has 23 years of retail and brand marketing experience, highlighted by his vice-president of marketing positions with Days Inns of America and Pearle Vision Centers. Marva Cathey, Vice President, Advertising, will be focused on strengthening Blockbuster's advertising and promotions programs, working with Blockbuster's advertising agency, Young & Rubicam. Previously, she held a number of executive advertising and promotions positions at The Southland Corporation/7-Eleven, beginning in 1983. For the last seven years, Cathey was Director, Advertising and Promotions, responsible for advertising for 7-Eleven's 5,400 convenience stores throughout the United States. As Vice President of Merchandising and Promotions, Curt Andrews will be working to better integrate product and marketing efforts and to improve the marketing impact of in-store visuals. Andrews has more than 23 years of marketing, merchandising and operating experience with companies such as Paul Harris stores, Inc., Trans World Entertainment Group, Circuit City and Musicland Group. Scott Parks, Director of Advertising and Promotions Development, will focus on developing advertising and promotions to increase Blockbuster's video rental market share. Prior to joining Blockbuster, Parks served as National Advertising Manager of The Southland Corporation/7-Eleven. Before that he was Account Executive for The Richards Group, responsible for accounts including Dr Pepper and Welch's Soft Drinks. As Vice President of Corporate Communications, Karen Raskopf will head up the company's public relations function, now refocused to emphasize marketing publicity and internal communications. She comes to Blockbuster with more than 20 years of experience in radio, advertising and public relations. Most recently she was Manager of Corporate Communications for The Southland Corporation/7-Eleven. Blockbuster operates nearly 6,000 video and music neighborhood entertainment stores in 28 countries and may be accessed internationally at www.blockbuster.com. Blockbuster is a unit of Viacom, Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and publishing companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace. ### |  Current Releases   |  Archives   | BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. © 1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.