East Coast Diversified Corporation Announces New Executives to Join EarthSearch and Rogue Paper

ATLANTA, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- East Coast Diversified Corporation (OTCBB: ECDC) announced the addition of two executives: Joseph M. Kozak will join EarthSearch as CEO, and Cheryl Botchick joined Rogue Paper as Vice President and General Manager of Client Services.

Mr. Kozak comes to EarthSearch with over 30 years of experience in technology-based companies and consulting services, including, most recently, as Chairman and CEO of ANTs, a technology firm specializing in development and implementation of mission critical software for IBM and Oracle. At ANTs, Mr. Kozak succeeded in raising $40 million in equity funds, securing and developing patent-pending technology and arranging multi-year development agreements with IBM and Oracle.

Mr. Kozak will gradually assume CEO responsibilities: immediate focus will be the development of a strategic plan over the course of January and February for the deployment of the StudentConnect product. Mr. Kozak will assume overall responsibility for the EarthSearch business portfolio, including being a close advisor to the Chairman of the board.

"Joe's track record for bringing technology to the broader market will add significant and critical experience to our operation as we transition from the development phase to the commercial phase of our business," commented Kayode Aladesuyi, Chairman of ECDC and current CEO of EarthSearch. "We could not have found a better candidate to lead EarthSearch during this crucial period."

Prior to joining ANTs, Mr. Kozak served as Vice President of Industry Sales at Oracle, where he developed and implemented a global go to market strategy for Retail, Distribution, CPG, Life Science and Process Manufacturing software and database solutions. He also assisted in the completion of the acquisition of Retek Software, which rounded out the company's global supply chain strategy.

He was previously recruited by Goldman Sachs as CEO of Lombardi Software to oversee the startup's formation and development, focusing on Business Process Management for discrete and process manufacturing, CPG and Retail industries serving Fortune 500 companies. He also served as an equity partner at Ernst & Young, LLP.

Mr. Kozak holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from LaSalle University and a Masters in Business from the University of New Jersey.

"Joe's presence allows me to focus more attention on the strategic development of our business and asset portfolio," continued Aladesuyi. "I am looking forward to working very closely with Joe at EarthSearch in executing our overall business objectives."

Ms. Botchick joins Rogue Paper with more than 40 previous successful digital content agreements with major brands, music labels and movie studios to her credit. As Head of Content Services and Applications at Ericsson from 2007 to 2009, she established the strategy for and implementation of all content products, licensing, acquiring and integrating over 100,000 digital assets across seven different digital media content services.

Ms. Botchick will be responsible for leading Rogue Paper's relationships with its clients, working collaboratively with accounts to solve their most pressing business issues on a day-to-day basis. This also includes developing strategic and tactical plans to grow each business, while assisting Rogue Paper in achieving its financial and growth targets.

Previously, Ms. Botchick was an Account Director and Product Manager for AT&T Answer Tones for four years where she oversaw the web and mobile e-commerce portal for AT&T. She worked closely with content providers on marketing campaigns that ranged from flyaway contests to viral videos. Prior to working with AT&T, Ms. Botchick was an editor at AOL Music, developing content strategy for the leading online music destination.

"Cheryl's wealth of experience producing and managing media content will be a huge asset to us at Rogue Paper," said Aladesuyi. "As we look to expand the business in 2012, her expertise will be crucial in rising to and exceeding our clients' expectations."

Ms. Botchick holds a Bachelor of Arts from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her appointment to Rogue Paper was effective December 2011.

About East Coast Diversified Corporation

EarthSearch Solutions and technologies are touching lives by changing the way businesses and governments operate or manage assets and security. East Coast Diversified Corporation (OTCBB: ECDC) connects owners and their asset in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. The Company challenges the imagination for desired solutions using GPS, RFID and other sensor technologies. The Company delivers solutions relevant to operations of businesses and governments. East Coast Diversified delivers innovative technology powered by alternative energy sources. The Company believes in and is contributing to the green evolution.

East Coast Diversified's technology provides continuous visibility of assets and cargo in transit, provides the visibility of thousands of kilometers of oil pipeline and other fixed assets, creates education resources for parents and teachers, provides efficiency in dispatching first responders in an emergency, and advances democracy though our ballot box monitoring technology. For more than half a decade now the Company has focused on and continues to innovate in the areas of RFID, GPS, and Sensor and Biometric technologies. East Coast Diversified's customers and partners globally are responding to the Company's innovation and is delivering practical solutions to solve their everyday business issues. For more information on East Coast Diversified Corporation, please visit the company's website at www.eastcoastdiversified.com.

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the Company's entry into new commercial businesses, the risk of obtaining financing, recruiting and retaining qualified personnel, and other risks described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to provide updates, revisions or amendments to any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in the Company's expectations or future events.

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SOURCE East Coast Diversified Corporation