Autodesk Named Preferred CAD/CAM Software Provider in Venezuela and CIO Named to Premier 100 IT Leader List

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that it has been selected as the best CAD/CAM software provider in Venezuela by PC News readers and that CIO Martin Wegenstein was named to IDG's Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders list. To win the CAD/CAM category from PC News, Autodesk claimed more than 50 percent of the votes with other finalists, including Dassault and SolidWorks, receiving less than five percent of the votes. Wegenstein was selected for the Premier 100 list from nearly 600 nominations who were measured against Computerworld's IT Leadership Index, a set of characteristics that describes executives use of IT in their organizations, and evaluated by the editors and by an external panel of past Premier 100 honorees.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/SFTH083LOGO )

PC News Awards

"Autodesk has been recognized for being a top supplier of CAD solutions in Venezuela and thus the users, who are the ones that voted for the solutions of this software development, have recognized it directly," said Jose Blanco, publisher and director of PC News. "Our awards not only recognize the quality of the solutions, but the commercial activity, support and concern that the user receives when needed."

PC News was founded nine years ago as a printed publication specializing in hardware and software. Today, PC News is a weekly digital publication with more than 60,000 subscribers. The PC News awards were founded in 1997 as recognition to the businesses and organizations involved in IT, with the purpose of promoting and supporting ideas that expand the sector.

Premiere IT 100

"Our Premiere 100 list honors those who've had a positive impact on their IT groups and their companies during some of the toughest times in years," said Maryfran Johnson, editor in chief of Computerworld. "They lead people and projects to success. They're adept communicators who are 'bilingual' in tech-speak and business talk. But most significantly, they're still willing to take risks in these highly risk-averse times."

The Premier 100 IT Leaders award honors executives who show exemplary technology leadership in resolving pressing business problems. Honorees demonstrate the ability to foster creativity and challenging work environments, envision fresh approaches to business challenges and effectively manage IT investments.

"It is an honor to receive such prestigious awards and recognition," said Carol Bartz, president and CEO at Autodesk. "We aim to provide a positive customer experience through product quality and business excellence, and these awards acknowledge our commitment in these areas."

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Nicole Pack of Autodesk, +1-415-507-6282, or nicole.pack@autodesk.com.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. 02/05/2004 /CONTACT: Nicole Pack of Autodesk, +1-415-507-6282, or nicole.pack@autodesk.com/ /Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/SFTH083LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840/ /Web site: http://www.autodesk.com / (ADSK) CO: Autodesk, Inc. ST: California, Venezuela IN: CPR STW MLM MAG PUB SU: AWD RN-MW -- SFTH031 -- 6171 02/05/2004 08:01 EST http://www.prnewswire.com