DAN JOHNSON JOINS NAVARRE DISTRIBUTION
Copyright 2002 Business Wire

[ January 14th 2002 ]

Navarre Corporation, a leading distributor of PC software, video games, music and DVD audio and video, today announced strategic staff additions to Navarre Distribution Services (NDS) and Navarre Entertainment Media (NEM).

Signaling the Company's move into the video game business, Navarre Distribution Services has announced the appointment of Dan Johnson, National Video Games Manager. In this capacity, Johnson will facilitate the implementation of the console games and accessories offered by the Company's current publisher roster and secure other publishers, providing a full range of products to its customers. Johnson previously held the position of Central Regional Sales Manager for Eidos Interactive.

Discussing this initiative, Brian Burke, Senior Vice President/General Manager, NDS, stated, "The recent introductions of Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and the growth of Sony's PlayStation 2 pave the way for explosive growth in the console business for the next few years. We have already begun distributing console titles from several of our existing publishers. Those publisher synergies and Dan's extensive industry knowledge will provide us with the tools to quickly ramp up our presence in this category. We see the move into video games as a natural extension of our current business. Our full complement of value-added services is attractive to both publishers and customers."

The Company also announced the recent additions of Jim Colson, Vice President, Business Affairs and Rick Lawler, Product Development Manager for Navarre Entertainment Media. As Vice President Business Affairs, Mr. Colson will focus his energies on all facets of recorded product development, contractual and financial relationships as well as financial and strategic development. Prior to joining Navarre, Colson was the Vice President/General Manager DNA, a division of Valley Media.

Rick Lawler, Product Development Manager, joins forces with Mike Cornette, Product Development Director and Michael Meyer, Product Development Manager. A 30 year music industry veteran, Lawler, will focus primarily on European music label opportunities. Mr. Lawler was most recently the import product manager for DNA. He also held positions with Rounder Distribution and Rykodisc.

Commenting on these appointments, Steve Pritchitt, Senior Vice President, NEM, stated, "Jim and Rick are valuable additions to Navarre Entertainment Media and our label development area. A key element to redefining the NEM structure last April was to aggressively pursue key independent labels and artists. The vast music industry knowledge that Jim and Rick possess will bring added strength and an even greater emphasis to this critical facet of our business."