HHGP Hudson Highland Grp., Inc. (MM)

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHGP) today announced several senior management changes in the company's market-leading Australia and New Zealand business. Effective immediately, Helen Nugent AO takes on the expanded role of executive chairman and Andrew Staite assumes the role of managing director of Hudson's Australian and New Zealand business. As a senior Australian company director who has served as chairman for the past year, Helen brings a wealth of business experience to her enhanced part-time role. Andrew's promotion to managing director follows a distinguished 10-year career at Hudson where he most recently served as executive general manager, Australia. Don Bielinski continues in his current role as chairman, Hudson Asia Pacific. In addition, Elaine Kloss has been seconded from Hudson Highland Group's New York corporate headquarters to act as chief financial officer. The company concurrently announced that the services of Anne Hatton and Richard Pepper, previous Hudson Australia/New Zealand president and chief financial officer, respectively, were terminated because they had violated the company's code of conduct. The misconduct concerned breaches of their fiduciary and employment obligations as senior executives as well as deliberate non-disclosure of a conflict of interest. Jon Chait, Hudson Highland Group chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Once we learned of and confirmed their involvement in a business proposal that was contrary to shareholder interests, and those of the Australian and New Zealand operations and their staff, swift termination of their employment was imperative." "The new management team has had a major influence in driving the region's market-leading performance and steadily improving profitability," Chait added. "We are confident that they will continue to drive solid results for the business." About Hudson Highland Group Hudson Highland Group, Inc. is a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals and talent management services worldwide. From single placements to total outsourced solutions, Hudson helps clients achieve greater organizational performance by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for their businesses. The company employs more than 3,600 professionals serving clients and candidates in more than 20 countries. More information is available at http://www.hhgroup.com/. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that the company believes to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including those regarding the company's future financial condition, results of operations, business operations and business prospects, are forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "predict," "believe" and similar words, expressions and variations of these words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the impact of global economic fluctuations on temporary contracting operations; the cyclical nature of the company's mid-market professional staffing businesses; the company's ability to manage its growth; risks associated with expansion; risks and financial impact associated with disposition of non-strategic assets; the company's reliance on information systems and technology; competition; fluctuations in operating results; risks relating to foreign operations, including foreign currency fluctuations; dependence on highly skilled professionals and key management personnel; risks maintaining professional reputation and brand name; restrictions imposed by blocking arrangements; exposure to employment-related claims, and limits on insurance coverage related thereto; government regulations; restrictions on the company's operating flexibility due to the terms of its credit facility; risks associated with the remediation work being performed on the company's PeopleSoft system; and the company's ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. DATASOURCE: Hudson Highland Group, Inc. CONTACT: Investors: David F. Kirby, of Hudson Highland Group, +1-212-351-7216, , or Media: Sarah Kafenstok, of Hudson, +1-312-795-4202, Web site: http://www.hhgroup.com/

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