Clorox Announces Key Executive Appointments
-- Gerald E. Johnston, formerly group vice president, will be promoted to the newly created position of president and chief operating officer;
-- Lawrence S. Peiros, formerly vice president and general manager, Household Products Division, is promoted to the position of group vice president and member of the Management Executive Committee;
-- Scott D. House, formerly vice president and treasurer, is named vice president, Latin America;
-- Steven S. Silberblatt, formerly director, business development, is promoted to vice president, corporate communications and public affairs.
"The changes that we're announcing today, in particular the new position of chief operating officer, are clearly appropriate in view of the significant growth we have experienced over the last few years as well as the future growth we are anticipating," said G. Craig Sullivan, chairman and chief executive officer.
"The people we're recognizing have been major players in our past success and these new assignments leverage their ability to impact our business in the future. I'm particularly proud that we have the depth in our organization to meet our leadership needs."
Johnston joined Clorox in 1981 after a 10-year career at Procter and Gamble, and has held a wide variety of senior management positions including vice president, corporate development and planning; vice president and general manager, Kingsford Products; and, most recently, group vice president, responsible for several of the company's operating divisions and functional groups.
Peiros assumes responsibility for several U.S. business units (Cleaning Products, Laundry Products, Food Products, and Professional Products), Clorox Canada and the corporate marketing function.
He joined Clorox's marketing department in 1981 and has held several marketing and general management positions since then, including: director of marketing for Kingsford Products and for Household Products; vice president, corporate marketing services; vice president, Food Products; vice president, Armor All and Cleaning Products; and vice president, Household Products.
House assumes responsibility for the company's fast-growing business in Latin America. Since joining Clorox in 1983, he has held various positions in auditing, financial analysis and forecasting for the International, Kingsford and Household Products divisions. Prior to becoming treasurer in 1997, he served as director of finance for the International division for five years.
His previous treasury and investor relations responsibilities will be temporarily assumed by Karen Rose, Clorox's chief financial officer.
Silberblatt is responsible for the company's corporate communications, community relations and government affairs programs. He joined Clorox's marketing department in 1980 and has held several marketing positions, including group marketing manager for Charcoal and Insecticide Products.
Since 1992 he has been director of business development, responsible for North American acquisitions and divestitures, including the pending First Brands merger.
The Clorox Company is a manufacturer and marketer of household products, both domestic and international, and products for institutional markets. Clorox brands include: Clorox, Clorox 2, Tilex, Pine-Sol, Formula 409, SoftScrub, Liquid-Plumr, Armor All, Kingsford, Match Light, Hidden Valley, Brita, Maxforce, Combat, and Fresh Step.
The company's announced acquisition of First Brands Corporation, which is expected to be completed shortly, will add such leading brands as Glad bags and wraps, STP automotive additive products and leading cat litter brands to the Clorox portfolio.
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CONTACT: The Clorox Company, Oakland
Gil Roeder, 510/271-7461 (News Media)
Scott House, 510/271-7144 (Investment Community)
Steve Austenfeld, 510/271-2270 (Investment Community)
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