Manpower Inc. launches the Empower Group to provide organizational performance consulting services

New Operating Division Extends Manpower's Range Of Workforce Management Services and Solutions

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) announced today the formation of a new operating division, The Empower Group, which provides organizational performance consulting services to multi-national corporations worldwide.

Developed through a combination of acquisitions, alliances and organic growth, The Empower Group is an independent operating division of Manpower. Its key services include: consulting support on strategic human resource initiatives; organization design and development; internal branding and communication strategy; as well as helping companies assess and maximize competence, develop leaders, and enhance individual performance and growth.

"We have been providing consulting services to our customers for many years to help them develop and implement effective strategies in the areas of corporate staffing and organizational performance, so this is consistent with our strategic direction and represents a significant enhancement," said Jeff Joerres, president and CEO of Manpower Inc.

"We established our Strategic Services group, in Switzerland, eight years ago to give us a basic capability in this growing service area," said Joerres. "The business has grown to a level where it was appropriate to launch a new operating division to provide a globally available service to our major customers. We have worked aggressively over the past year to build The Empower Group," he added.

Some of the larger companies acquired to form the basis of The Empower Group include national and regional market leaders like Brecker & Merryman in the United States, Greene Hanson in New Zealand, Corfield Wright in the United Kingdom and Clark Hummerston in Australia. In addition, Manpower has developed equity-based alliances in the United Kingdom, Israel, Switzerland and Norway that will add unique capabilities to this new global consultancy group. The Empower Group will gain extended geographic coverage through organic start-ups like Empower Scandinavia, based in Sweden. All of these organizations will be evolved over a 12-month period under The Empower Group brand, according to Joerres.

The Empower Group is headed by David Arkless, Senior Vice President of Manpower Inc. and Chief Executive of the Empower Group, who previously served as Vice President of Strategic Services for Manpower since 1992.

"The Empower Group's global network of consulting professionals will be focused on helping large multi-national corporations design and implement more effective and productive organizations," said Arkless. "We're very excited about the opportunity to build on the strength of the Manpower brand. With these new capabilities Manpower can now offer global customers a unique workforce design and enhancement service, as well as provide appropriately skilled human resources through its traditional service channels."

Headquartered in London, The Empower Group employs over 250 people, and has offices in Australia, Belgium, Israel, New Zealand, United States, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, with plans for further significant geographic expansion over the next 12 months.

The services of The Empower Group are an ideal complement to those of Manpower, which annually places more than two million people with companies worldwide and is an industry leader in employee assessment and training. This enhanced capability will ensure Manpower's continued market leadership in the global staffing industry.

Among the clients of The Empower Group are: American Express, Pfizer, BP Australia, British Rail, BT, DoubleClick, Hewlett Packard, IBM, McDonald's, Nortel, Tenneco, Xerox PricewaterhouseCoopers and Queensland Government. More than 60 percent of The Empower Group's clients already have significant relationships with Manpower, enabling a fast start in the design and implementation of new and innovative work systems. In the escalating war for talent, Manpower and Empower will provide their joint customers with a new competitive edge.

Manpower Inc. is a world leader in the staffing industry, providing workforce management services and solutions to customers through more than 3,500 offices in 54 countries. The firm annually provides employment to more than 2 million people worldwide and is an industry leader in employee assessment and training. Manpower also offers organizational performance consulting services worldwide through its independent operating division, The Empower Group. More information on Manpower Inc. can be found at the company's Web site, www.manpower.com. More information can also be found about The Empower Group at its website, www.empowergrp.com.