As of Monday, 17 September, Sulev Valner will be the new editor-in-chief of Maaleht, he has also previously worked in this position. As of 15 October 2007, the new chairman of the management board of Maaleht will be Kadi Lambot, former manager of dairy industry company Tere. “Peeter Ernits, former editor-in-chief of Maaleht, will continue as a substitute for the editor-in-chief,” Priit Leito, chairman of the management board of Ekspress Grupp said. “Sulev Valner's return to Maaleht is a result of the wish to substantively strengthen management of the newspaper. Due to a coincide in favourable circumstances, Sulev Valner was ready to once again resume the leadership position in Maaleht - as he has steered Maaleht also previously, it does not imply a large change in direction. I believe that he and Peeter Ernits will form a tandem which ensures consistency. We would like to complement the team with some other members”. According to Priit Leito, the strengthening of the business side of Maaleht is one of the main priorities of Ekspress Grupp. “Above all, it means implementation of synergies between Maaleht and Ekspress Grupp,” said Priit Leito. “The departure of Agu Veetamm, former chairman of the management board of Maaleht, on his own accord, was already agreed upon earlier. We tried to find a person with experience in business to replace him, who would also bring along some new approaches to the business management of Maaleht. I believe that Kadi Lambot will successfully accept the worthy challenge facing her,” Priit Leito said. Sulev Valner graduated from the University of Tartu with a speciality in journalism, he has also worked previously as the editor-in-chief of Maaleht and the editor of publicity broadcasts of ETV, was a chairman of the Estonian Press Council in 2002-2004, and recently a member of the management board of Eesti Raadio. Kadi Lambot acquired the speciality of medical treatment from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tartu and graduated from the internship of general practitioner in 1994. After her studies she worked in the Ministry of Social Affairs, then as the head of the pharmaceuticals department of Sirowa AS and later as the head of the pharmaceuticals department of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund and the chairman of the management board of Tallinna Piimatööstuse AS. Ekspress Grupp (www.egrupp.ee)is a media concern whose products are consumed by over 60% of the Estonian population. The following companies form the subsidiaries of the Group: Eesti Ekspressi Kirjastuse AS, AS Maaleht, Rahva Raamat AS, AS Printall, AS Ekspress Hotline with its subsidiaries, UAB Ekspress Leidyba, OÜ Ekspress Internet and AS Delfi, which administers 7 Internet portals: Estonian- and Russian-language portals in Estonia and Latvia(www.delfi.ee, www.rus.delfi.ee, www.delfi.lv and www.rus.delfi.lv), two portals in Lithuania (www.delfi.lt and www.centras.lt) and the news portal in the Ukraine(www.delfi.ua). The affiliated companies include Eesti Päevalehe AS, AS SL Õhtuleht, AS Ajakirjade Kirjastus, AS Express Post, OÜ Netikuulutused, AS Linnaleht and UAB Medipresa. The annual turnover of Ekspress Grupp in 2006 was MEEK 929 and the net profit MEEK 94. The Group is an employer of nearly 2000 people. Further information: Priit Leito Chairman of the Management Board of AS Ekspress Grupp E-mail: priit.leito@ekspress.ee Tel: 669 8340