NEW YORK, N.Y.—The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ) today announced that Denise Benou Stires, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, has decided to leave NASDAQ to pursue other professional opportunities. In restructuring the business, Worldwide Marketing will report to John L. Jacobs, Executive Vice President of NASDAQ and CEO of NASDAQ Financial Products Services, Inc. following Ms. Stires departure later this month.

Ms. Stires, who joined NASDAQ in 2001, was a member of NASDAQ's Operations Management Committee, President of NASDAQ Financial Products Services, Inc. and sat on the Boards of Directors of The NASDAQ ETF Funds PLC, NASDAQ Financial Products Services, Inc., NASDAQ Financial Products Services, (Ireland) Limited and the NASDAQ Educational Foundation.

During Ms. Stires tenure she successfully enhanced the NASDAQ franchise so that it has become one of the most well recognized brands in the world. Most notable among her contributions are launching the highly successful "Listed on NASDAQ" print and broadcast advertising campaign, and NASDAQ's attracting and retaining high-profile listings. In June 2002, Ms. Stires was named a "Woman to Watch" by Advertising Age, the industry's leading publication.

NASDAQ is the world's largest electronic stock market. With approximately 3,500 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to category-defining companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, media and biotechnology industries. For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at www.NASDAQ.com or the NASDAQ Newsroom^SM at www.nasdaq.com/newsroom.