June 30, 2004

Kenneth J. Dale named acting chief financial officer for The Associated Press

NEW YORK – The Associated Press has appointed Kenneth J. Dale, vice president and director of global business development for the news cooperative, to be its acting chief financial officer, effective immediately.

Dale replaces Tommy J. Harris, who resigned earlier this week, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Tom Curley, AP president and CEO, said Wednesday that Dale was uniquely suited to head AP's corporate finance operations and could be expected to offer a broad global and entrepreneurial perspective as the news organization moves forward.

Dale joined the AP in 2000 as deputy director of business development after 21 years at J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. advising media clients on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance transactions.

At AP he has been responsible for AP Ad Management Services, including Advantage and AdSEND, as well as AP's commercial photo sales unit, Wide World Photos.

He was named vice president and director of global business development in December 2003 and has been instrumental in helping AP develop new strategies for broadening its markets worldwide.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Dale holds an MBA in finance from New York University.