Avon Signs Orman As Financial Adviser

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc. announced today a special partnership with Suze Orman, renowned personal finance expert, award winning television host and best-selling author.

Ms. Orman will work with Avon to advance their shared missions to provide financial empowerment to women around the world. In this capacity, she will serve as a Special Personal Finance Advisor to the Avon Representatives to offer money management advice and strategies for success. A first of its kind in the direct selling industry, the program will launch this month to the company's nearly 500,000 Avon Representatives in the U.S., with plans to expand globally in the future.

At Avon, we truly believe that the single most effective way to create positive change in the world is by helping to improve the lives of women everywhere," said Andrea Jung, Avon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "For over a century -- thirty-four years before women won the right to vote -- Avon has been providing women the opportunity to earn money and achieve economic independence. Suze shares our deep commitment to empower women, and working together, we can form a powerful partnership to continue to advance this important agenda."

Ms. Jung noted that Avon had conducted a worldwide opinion poll of women in 16 countries in early 2007, and the findings overwhelmingly showed that worries about money were at the top of the list of women's concerns. "Having enough money to live right and pay the bills" was cited by women as the number-one factor that would change their lives for the better.

"No company is more committed than Avon to helping women achieve economic independence," says Suze Orman, "and this is certainly what my life and work are all about. The partnership with Avon is a logical and natural extension of everything I believe in. We both want to motivate women to be more, so that they can have more, for themselves and their families. I am confident we can make a huge difference toward the goal of empowering women and helping them achieve their financial hopes and dreams."

As part of the partnership, Avon Representatives and employees will be provided with unprecedented access to Ms. Orman. An "Ask Suze" mailbox feature on the YourAvon.com intranet site has been created so Avon Representatives and employees can submit personal questions to Ms. Orman for individualized advice and guidance. Critical financial management tools will also be provided to determine FICO scores, create a will and trust, evaluate insurance and guard against identity theft. Ms. Orman will also be featured at key events, webinars and taped webcasts


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