Livonia, Mich. - Valassis, one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, announced today that it has named Gabrielle Austin, an industry leader with extensive new business development experience and broad advertising and marketing knowledge as Vice President, New Account Development.

At Valassis, Gabrielle will lead a team in the development and implementation of sales strategies to grow market share. She will focus efforts on acquiring new customers, developing key agency relationships as well as increasing business at several key customers.

Austin joins Valassis from EPMG, a multicultural media buying and planning firm where she served as president. In her most recent role, Austin focused on news business development and the firm achieved a significant increase in new account growth under her leadership. She also brings to her new position, 10 years of experience with NSA Media, a national print media and planning agency, where she spearheaded media research analysis and strategy development for the Atlanta division. As a divisional president, she led all account service and operational support. Her background also includes experience at various newspapers and publications including the Miami Herald Publishing Group and Essence magazine.

A recognized leader, she has been inducted into the Black Women's Hall of Fame and received numerous awards including recognition among Atlanta's top 25 Outstanding Business Women in 2006.

She makes her home in Marietta, Georgia.