STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 28, 2005 -- Gartner, Inc. announced three finalists for the Gartner Business Intelligence Excellence Awards, which will be presented at the company's Business Intelligence Summit, March 7-9 in Chicago.

The finalists are AXA Financial, Cardinal Health and Continental Airlines.

More than 50 companies submitted entrees for the Gartner Business Intelligence Excellence Awards. Companies submitted their applications based on a range of criteria as defined in the Gartner Research Note "Cornerstones of Business Intelligence Excellence." Gartner's Business Intelligence research analysts evaluated the applicants and selected the three finalists that will present their successes at the Business Intelligence Summit. Attendees will then vote to select the award winner.

"We continue to see more implementations of business intelligence that are creating tremendous value for their organizations in a wide range of vertical industries," said Ted Friedman, principal analyst at Gartner. "The Gartner BI Excellence Awards program is intended to identify and recognize outstanding implementations of business intelligence, and the large number of high-quality submissions we received clearly demonstrates that the strategic value of BI is on the rise."

"The Gartner Business Intelligence Excellence Awards are about highlighting world-class business intelligence initiatives and broadly sharing their successes, challenges and insights," said Bill Hostmann, research director at Gartner. "These finalists have demonstrated leadership in recognizing the power and potential of business intelligence."

The Gartner Business Intelligence Summit will be held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. The Summit is the only event designed to provide businesses with the knowledge required to create a visionary business intelligence strategy. Through a content-focused curriculum, attendees will learn the methodologies, strategies, technologies and architectures that will move them from the tactics of cost cutting and compliance to increasing their companies' agility and responsiveness, and improving overall business performance. The first Business Intelligence Excellence Awards winner will be voted for and announced on-site in Chicago.

For complete event details, please visit the Gartner Business Intelligence Summit Web site at www.gartner.com/us/bi. Members of the media can register by contacting Wanda Whitson at 203-316-3272 or e-mail at wanda.whitson@gartner.com.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT and ITB) is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Gartner serves more than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company focuses on delivering objective, in-depth analysis and actionable advice to enable clients to make more informed business and technology decisions. The Company's businesses consist of Research and Events for IT professionals; Gartner Executive Programs, membership programs and peer networking services; and Gartner Consulting, customized engagements with a specific emphasis on outsourcing and IT management. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and has more than 3,500 associates, including approximately 1,000 research analysts and consultants in more than 75 locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

Tom McCall, 408-468-8312
tom.mccall@gartner.com