Options Group Establishes Partnership with English First in China

Options Group Establishes Partnership with English First in China

May 24, 2007

    SHANGHAI, May 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Options Group,
a leading global executive search and strategic consulting
firm, announces an extensive partnership with English First
(EF), the world's largest private education company that
specializes in language training, educational tours and
cultural exchange. 

    Options Group Vice Chairman Gene Shen and Vice
President Loran Fredric will speak at EF events in both
Shanghai and Beijing and sponsor  "Dress for
Success" segment during the launch party for EF's new
Shanghai center this week.

    "Chinese professionals realize the importance of
learning the English language and EF and Options Group
understand this demand," says Shen, who is leading the
Firm's effort into the fast-growing Chinese market. "We
believe this will be the start of a growing global
relationship with EF," adds Ike Suri, Co-COO of
Options Group.

    The events will give Chinese professionals the
socializing and networking skills, as well as the language
and vocabulary required, to succeed in the "New
China". EF recently announced their selection as the
exclusive language-training provider for the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games.

    The announcement comes shortly after the opening of
Options Group Shanghai, the Firm's ninth office globally
and fourth in the Asia-Pacific. For the past two years, the
Firm has fulfilled client needs in both Shanghai and
Beijing, covering the mainland market out of both Hong Kong
and New York, and has native Chinese consultants situated
throughout the world.

    Options Group and EF recognize the tremendous value-add
this partnership brings to EF's students in China, many of
whom are studying English specifically to improve their
career opportunities.  Options Group will leverage its
experience in executive search and strategic consulting to
provide an additional level of training and insight.

    "Options Group continues to expand its presence in
emerging markets such as China to meet this growing demand
for local professionals globally," says Options Group
CEO Michael Karp. Options Group, which is headquartered in
New York, also has offices in London, Hong Kong, Newport
Beach, Sao Paulo, Dubai, Sydney and Tokyo.

    About Options Group

    Options Group is a leading global executive search,
market intelligence and strategic consulting firm with a
focus on the financial services industry. Founded in 1992,
Options Group has always prioritized maintaining an
intimate relationship with the financial services industry
and its key participants. Our geographic reach continues to
expand to cover both established and emerging markets in the
Americas, Europe and Asia. Since 2000, our search
consultants have placed thousands of financial services
professionals in Global Markets, Alternative
Investments/Hedge Funds, Investment Banking, Quantitative
Research and Technology.

    About English First 

    English First is the world's largest private education
company that specializes in language training, educational
tours and cultural exchange. English First was founded in
1965 by a young Swedish entrepreneur named Bertil Hult. Our
first office was modest and our concept was straightforward:
take Swedish high school students to England to learn
English. Four decades later, EF Education is a group of ten
subsidiaries and non-profit organizations centered around
language learning, educational travel and degree programs.
Today, EF has over 26,000 employees, teachers and
volunteers. With offices and schools in 51 countries, EF
has turned the world into a global classroom. 


    For more information, please contact: 

    Gene Shen
    Vice Chairman
    Options Group Shanghai
    Tel: [phone]
    Shanghai Main: [phone]
    New York Phone: [phone]
    New York Main: [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]

    Media: 
    Eric Moskowitz
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]