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Wimm-Bill-Dann Appoints Group Head of Marketing and Innovation

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 September 2006, 09:00 CDT

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC (NYSE: WBD), Russia's

leading manufacturer of dairy products and beverages, today announced

the appointment of Grant Winterton as Group Head of Marketing and

Innovation effective as of November, 2006. This appointment and the

creation of this new position at Wimm-Bill-Dann underscores the Company's

strategic focus on marketing.

Mr. Winterton has extensive experience in marketing and sales with

multinational companies Wella Haircare, Campbell Soup Company (Arnotts

Snacking) and Coca-Cola in Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and

China. He also has dairy industry experience with 3 years in both the

milk and soft dairy divisions of National Dairies, Australia's

largest dairy producer. Over the last 14 years Mr. Winterton has worked

in a variety of senior marketing, sales and managerial positions in

these fast moving consumer goods companies. Mr. Winterton holds a

Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales,

Australia, where he graduated with a double major in Marketing and

Finance.

"The new position of the Group Head of

Marketing and Innovation underscores our marketing strategy to leverage

Wimm-Bill-Dann's leading portfolio of brands

into stronger competitive advantage, and accelerate innovation based on

deeper consumer understanding. I am very pleased that Grant Winterton

will be leading this effort", commented Tony

Maher, Wimm-Bill-Dann's CEO. "Until

now we had three heads of marketing: dairy, beverages and baby food.

Each of them reported to their respective business head. Under the new

structure, they will report to the Group Head of Marketing and

Innovation, whose role is to capture potential synergies around

corporate identity, media and advertising through larger marketing

campaigns. The Group Head of Marketing and Innovation will report

directly to me".

"Under Grant's

leadership we are also bringing together our significant capability in

Research and Development, so as to focus on value added innovations that

fill consumer identified gaps in the market.",

emphasized Tony Maher.

Mr. Winterton added, "I am very excited to

join Wimm-Bill-Dann, which has a leading position in health and

wellness, a trend that is growing globally, including Russia.

Wimm-Bill-Dann has a number of power brands which provide a good

foundation for future growth, and a well developed science capability in

healthy foods which can lead to a wider portfolio of health oriented

brands. I look forward to working together with each business unit to

leverage the Company's high profile, trusted

brands and broader corporate identity, and create a focused marketing

approach throughout the Company.

For further enquiries contact:

Marina Kagan

Head of Public Affairs

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC

13 Solyanka St., Bld. 2,

Moscow, 109028 Russia

Phone: +7 495 105 5205

Fax: +7 495 733 9725

e-mail: kagan@wbd.ru

Anton Saraikin

Press Secretary

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC

13 Solyanka St., Bld. 2,Moscow,

109028 Russia

Phone: +7 495 105 5805 (ext. 1699)

Fax: +7 495 105 5800

e-mail: saraikinAS@wbd.ru

"Some of the information contained in this

press release may contain projections or other forward-looking

statements regarding future events or the future financial performance

of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC, as defined in the safe harbor provisions

of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We

wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that

actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend

to update these statements to conform them to actual results. We

refer you to the documents Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC files from time to

time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically, the

Company's most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and

identify important factors, including those contained in the section

captioned "Risk Factors"

in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ

materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking

statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly

results, and risks associated with our competitive environment, acquisition

strategy, ability to develop new products or maintain market share,

brand and company image, operating in Russia, volatility of stock price,

financial risk management, and future growth.

ABOUT WIMM-BILL-DANN OJSC

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC is a leading manufacturer of dairy products

and beverages in Russia. The company was founded in 1992.

The Company currently owns 30 manufacturing facilities in Russia and the

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as trade affiliates in

26 cities in Russia and the CIS.

Wimm-Bill-Dann has a diversified branded portfolio with over 1,000 types

of dairy products and over 150 types of juice, nectars and still drinks.

The company currently employs over 17,000 people.

On May 18, 2006, Standard & Poor's

Governance Services announced the upgrade of WBD's

Corporate Governance Score (CGS) from 7 to 7+ (from 7.3 and 7.7

accordingly on the Russian national scale), which makes the Company's

score the highest rating in Russia. The increase in the score reflects

the effective work of the Board of Directors and, in particular, the

real influence of independent directors in the decision-making process

and the adherence of the controlling shareholders to the highest

standards of corporate governance.


Source: Business Wire

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