Columbia Management executives have tapped Toby Cromwell to head up global consultant relations. Cromwell will report to Columbia president Michael Jones, until a new head of distribution is named at the Boston-based fund firm. Previously, Cromwell was with Ashfield Capital Partners, LLC, where he oversaw institutional marketing, sales, and consultant relations.

Columbia Management today announced the appointment of Toby Cromwell as its Head of Global Consultant Relations. Cromwell, a 22-year industry veteran, is responsible for managing a team of professionals dedicated to cultivating, enhancing and maintaining Columbia Management's relationships with external investment consulting firms.

Cromwell will work closely with Columbia Management's leadership team and sales force to expand the investment management solutions provided to investors utilizing investment consultants. He will report to Michael A. Jones, president, Columbia Management until a new head of distribution is named. As of September 30, 2007, approximately $284.4 billion(1) of Columbia Management and its affiliate's assets were tied to institutional clients.

"Toby has a proven track record of developing relationships with outside pension consultants and understands how to successfully represent our institutional experience, capabilities and products with this important constituency," said Jones. "We're confident he will be an effective advocate for Columbia Management's institutional products and expertise."

Cromwell joins the organization most recently from Ashfield Capital Partners, LLC, where he oversaw institutional marketing, sales, and consultant relations. Previously he was part of Robeco Investment management's consultant relations team and also led the institutional marketing, sales, and client service efforts for Transamerica Investment Mgmt, LLC. He also held a key sales position at Invesco Institutional and began his financial services career as an independent investment advisor.

Columbia Management and its Affiliates

With $709.9 billion(2) overall under management (as of September 30, 2007) and a history that dates to the early 1900s, Columbia Management and its affiliates make up one of the nation's largest and most experienced asset management companies. Columbia offers a comprehensive array of investment solutions, including equity, fixed-income and cash strategies. Its diverse investment solutions and focus on the needs of clients make Columbia Management the asset manager of choice for institutions, corporations, advisors and high-net-worth investors. To learn more about Columbia Management, visit http://www.columbiamanagement.com/.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving 57 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,700 retail banking offices, more than 17,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 22 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. http://www.bankofamerica.com/

(1) Includes non-retail share classes of money market funds, privately placed and offshore money funds, subadvised money market funds, institutional separate accounts and alternative investment products.

(2) Columbia Management and its affiliates comprise the wealth and investment management division of Bank of America Corporation. As of September 30, 2007, Columbia Management and its affiliates managed assets of $709.9 billion. Columbia Management and its affiliates' managed assets consist of assets under the discretionary management of the registered investment advisors, Columbia Management Advisors, LLC ($377.9 billion), Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P. ($38.5 billion) and Marsico Capital Management, LLC ($103.4 billion); U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.; Banc of America Investment Advisors, Inc.; Bank of America Capital Advisors, LLC; Premier Banking & Investments, and United States Trust Company, National Association, including its subsidiary, UST Advisers, Inc. ($116.5 billion).

Columbia Management Group, LLC ("Columbia Management") is the investment management division of Bank of America Corporation. Columbia Management entities furnish investment management services and products for institutional and individual investors.

Edited by: Erin Kello

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