Heartland Advisors [profile] just expanded its marketing team with two new hires, including a marketing chief. The Milwaukee-based mutual fund firm revealed the addition of Cam Stephenson as vice president and director of marketing and of Nicole Klass as e-commerce strategist.

Dave Ribbens, senior vice president and director marketing, put the two appointments in the context of a shuffle of Heartland's marketing team and of the increasing importance of digital communication.

"We reorg'ed our marketing department a big," Ribbens said. "Sales and marketing bring the greatest value to both clients and the fund shop when they're fully integrated."

"Increasingly clients turn to the web and turn to their digital devices," Ribbens added.

Back in June 2011 Ribbens told MFWire.com that the firm was hunting for a marketing chief, who would report to Ribbens [see MFWire.com, 6/8/2011].

Stephenson previously served as director of marketing communications and operations for a nearby, multi-strategy, hedge fund firm, Stark Investments. She also worked in mutual fund marketing, for Artisan Partners and Wells Fargo.

An ex-journalist, Klaas most recently served as content and production manager for the Alliance for Children and Families, a non-profit also based in Milwaukee.

Company press release

Milwaukee, WI, January 27, 2012 � Heartland Advisors, Inc., manager of the Heartland family of value-driven mutual funds, is pleased to announce two new marketing professionals.

Said Dave Ribbens, Senior Vice President and Head of Distribution, �We�re thrilled to welcome two exceptional additions to our team. 2011 was a busy year at Heartland, not only for portfolio managers navigating one of the most difficult markets in memory, but for our distribution team as well. Over $700 million of net inflows came into the Heartland Funds during 2011. We�re pleased to build our team as we strive to continue to deliver best-in-class service and results for our clients.�

Cam Stephenson was named Vice President and Director of Marketing. She will oversee Heartland�s marketing strategy and public relations as the firm seeks to communicate its disciplined approach to value investing encapsulated in Heartland�s 10 Principles of Value Investing�. Previously, Cam served as Director of Marketing Communications and Operations at Stark Investments, a multi-strategy hedge fund based in the Milwaukee area. Additionally, she has past mutual fund marketing management experience locally at both Artisan Partners and Wells Fargo Institutional Trust.

Nicole Klaas is Heartland�s new E-commerce Strategist. In this role, Nicole will oversee Heartland�s website, electronic communications strategy, and digital connections with clients and prospects. Nicole brings extensive prior experience in digital marketing and message development, having served most recently as Content and Production Manager at the Alliance for Children and Families, a Milwaukeebased national nonprofit membership association. Nicole began her career as a journalist in Albany, NY. About Heartland

Heartland Advisors, Inc. is an independently owned Milwaukee-based firm established in 1983 and renowned as America�s Value Investor�. As of December 31, 2011, the firm managed approximately $4.9 billion for institutional and high net worth clients and the Heartland family of value-driven mutual funds, which include the Heartland Value Fund (Investor: HRTVX), Heartland Value Plus Fund (Investor: HRVIX), Heartland Select Value Fund (Investor: HRSVX), and Heartland International Small Cap Fund (HINVX). Learn more at www.heartlandfunds.com and www.heartlandinternationalfund.com.

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An investor should consider the Funds� investment objectives, risk and charges and expenses carefully before investing or sending money. This and other important information can be found in the Funds� prospectus. To obtain a Heartland Funds� prospectus, please call 1-800-432-7856 or visit www.heartlandfunds.com. For the Heartland International Small Cap Fund prospectus, please call 1- 877-484-6838 or visit www.heartlandinternationalfund.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Mutual fund investing involves risks and loss of principal is possible.

The Heartland Funds and the Heartland International Small Cap Fund are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

David Ribbens is a registered representative of ALPS Distributors, Inc.

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