Contact:
Kathryn Woods, True North, 212-727-5582

MARKETING DRIVE WORLDWIDE ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF E-DRIVE, NEW E-MARKETING BRAND

WILTON, CT September 19 – Marketing Drive Worldwide, the global marketing services unit of True North Communications (NYSE: TNO), today announced the formation of e-Drive. The e-Drive brand, to be based in Norwalk, Conn. and London, will offer "e-Marketing" – integrated database, direct and digital marketing solutions. Sierra Communications, a direct marketing agency that True North has just acquired, will also become part of e-Drive.

David Bell, Chairman and CEO of True North, commented, "This new brand extends True North's commitment to interactive relationship marketing and gives Marketing Drive a strong capability in this area. e-Drive will combine the interactive and database capabilities that Marketing Drive has been building with the direct marketing strength of Sierra Communications. It will also be aligned with True North's recently launched database resource, Analytici."

Mickey Goodman, e-Drive CEO, said, "Operating as part of Marketing Drive, e-Drive will seamlessly integrate database and technology with traditional below-the-line activities." Goodman, who moves to his new post from President of CRM for Marketing Drive, added, "We will focus on e-marketing from strategy through execution – offering complete solutions that help our clients to build long-term, profitable and trust-based relationships with their customers. We see technology as playing an enabling role within these marketing programs."

Tim McCord, e-Drive's Chief Operating Officer, commented on what differentiates e-Drive: "First and foremost, we're not rooted in a single ‘silo,' but are building from the ground up as a truly integrated agency, addressing where the marketplace is headed. Clients today demand complete marketing solutions that drive profitability. e-Drive's digital, direct and database capabilities will work together in meeting client needs, and we'll operate in tandem with Marketing Drive's other promotional and advertising services."

e-Drive's Capabilities
Marketing Drive's interactive, programming and database technology capabilities are being shifted to e-Drive. In addition, the new unit is already aggressively expanding its staff. e-Drive has hired several top interactive players, including Tig Tillinghast as Vice President, Business Development; David Griffith as Vice President, Creative Services; and Susan Lonie as Vice President of Account Services [biographies are available].

Sierra Communications, a direct marketing agency that True North has acquired as part of Marketing Drive, will become an integral part of e-Drive. Sierra, based in Wilton, Connecticut, has grown rapidly since it was founded in 1995. With more than 20 employees, its 1999 revenue was more than $6 million. Key clients include American Express, GE Capital, Nabisco, SoBe Beverage and others.

Eric Tolkin, CEO of Sierra, becomes Executive Vice President of e-Drive. Tolkin said, "Sierra is extremely excited about becoming a foundation element of e-Drive. We made the decision to become part of True North and e-Drive because we firmly believe in the business model of merging traditional direct marketing disciplines with enabling technologies."

"We have assembled an amazing pool of talent in a very short period of time," concluded Goodman. "We can bring to the table a combination of business strategists, people who know how to integrate technology into the overall business mix – a tremendous database expertise, and the ability to get it done on budget and on time."

Goodman said that e-Drive will be focused on the identification of best business prospects and the customization of communication to those consumers. In addition, it will provide ongoing feedback to enable real-time adjustments to communications. Capabilities include strategy; targeting; database development, optimization and management; website development and management; technology integration; and all aspects of customer relationship marketing.

Expansion Plans
Marketing Drive is committed to expanding e-Drive's presence. Marketing Drive Worldwide Co-CEO Wes Bray commented, "As we continue Marketing Drive's aggressive international growth, we think that our clients will want integrated relationship marketing along with our other services. Our plans call for integrating e-Drive into the service offerings of all Marketing Drive Worldwide locations."

More information about e-Drive can be found at their website: www.e-driveinc.com.

End Notes
Marketing Drive is True North's global marketing services brand. Headquartered in Wilton, Conn. and London, Marketing Drive Worldwide has 43 offices in 27 countries and over 700 employees around the world. It is one of a handful of organizations in the world that can deliver fully integrated marketing solutions to multinational clients. Marketing Drive Worldwide has capabilities in a wide spectrum of marketing services, including marketing consulting, sales promotion, relationship marketing, branding, event marketing and promotional services. Its 1999 revenues were more than $50 million worldwide.

True North Communications (NYSE: TNO) is one of the world's largest global advertising and communications holding companies. Headquartered in Chicago, it had 1999 revenues of about $1.4 billion and annual billings of more than $14 billion. True North has three major global brands: FCB Worldwide, advertising; BSMG Worldwide, public relations; and Marketing Drive Worldwide, marketing services. The company also has a strong roster of U.S.-based advertising brands, including Bozell Group, New America Strategies Group, Temerlin McClain, Tierney & Partners, TN Media and others. Its digital portfolio includes R/GA Interactive and SixtyFootSpider. True North's nontraditional brands operate as part of its True North Diversified Companies group.

Cautionary Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E(i)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause True North's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these statements. Such factors include the following: general economic and business conditions, the ability of True North to continue to improve its cost management, the ability to maintain current and attract new clients, the ability of True North to integrate acquisitions or complete future acquisitions, dependence upon and availability of qualified personnel and changes in government regulation. In light of these and other uncertainties, the forward-looking statements included in this document should not be regarded as a representation by True North that True North's plans and objectives will be achieved.

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