Aflac Duck Enshrined on Advertising Walk of Fame

Aflac Duck Enshrined on Advertising Walk of Fame

The Aflac Duck receives honor as a favorite icon during New York City's second annual celebration of the advertising industry

COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aflac Duck was enshrined on Madison Avenue's Walk of Fame today during an official induction ceremony recognizing the beloved corporate mascot as one of America's Favorite Advertising Icons. The tribute launches a weeklong celebration honoring the best of the advertising industry.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO)

During the 2004 inaugural celebration of advertising week, the Aflac Duck beat out 24 other popular advertising icons, winning a coveted spot on the well-known corner of 50th street and Madison Avenue. The duck competed against such renowned symbols as Ronald McDonald and the Energizer Bunny through an online voting poll. This year's festivities began by honoring the winners of the 2004 contest with the installation of an image-engraved sidewalk plaque located in the heart of the advertising capital of the world - New York City.

"It is an honor to have our Aflac Duck recognized in such a prestigious manner," said Dan Amos, Aflac chairman and CEO. "We are pleased to know that so many people have enjoyed watching the commercials and that the campaign has become so highly regarded within the advertising industry."

Following a procession of other famous advertising symbols competing in this year's contest, the spokesduck received its official spot on the Walk of Fame, making it the newest icon on the block. By fervently touting its namesake to anyone who will listen, the Aflac Duck has created effective brand awareness for the Columbus, Ga.-based insurer through an innovative advertising campaign that began less than six years ago. Today, Aflac enjoys more than 90 percent brand recognition.

Following its 2004 win as one of America's Favorite Advertising Icons, the Aflac Duck went on to have other major successes. In December 2004, the duck was placed front and center in the company's logo and had a cameo appearance in the Academy Award-winning film, "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." The feathered celebrity also starred opposite Melania Trump in the widely popular Aflac television commercial titled "Experiment." More recently, the duck's latest commercial, titled "Helping Out," was named Best- Liked New Ad by AdAge.com.

Other icons sharing an engraved image alongside the Aflac Duck include the M&M characters, Mr. Peanut, the Pillsbury Doughboy and Tony the Tiger.

The Kaplan Thaler Group, a New York-based advertising agency, created the Aflac Duck advertising campaign in 1999.

Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and Japan. Aflac's insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide and pay cash benefits to policyholders unless they choose otherwise. Aflac's products are primarily sold at worksites in the United States. In Japan, Aflac is the largest life insurer in terms of individual insurance policies in force. In January 2005, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the seventh consecutive year. Aflac has also been included in both Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies and in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies for five consecutive years. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

The Kaplan Thaler Group (www.kaplanthalergroup.com) has been ranked by industry publications as the fastest-growing New York advertising agency and touted for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. KTG is part of the Publicis Groupe, one of the world's largest communications holding companies.

Media Contacts: Yolonda King Mechell Clark Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated (706) 243-8547 Voice (706) 243-8004 Voice (706) 320-2288 Fax (706) 320-2288 Fax yking@aflac.commeclark@aflac.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Aflac Incorporated

CONTACT: Yolonda King, +1-706-243-8547, or Fax, +1-706-320-2288, or yking@aflac.com, or Mechell Clark, +1-706-243-8004, or Fax, +1-706-320-2288, or meclark@aflac.com, both of Aflac Incorporated

Web site: http://www.aflac.com/ http://www.kaplanthalergroup.com/

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