The Perrigo Company (NASDAQ: PRGO) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected David T. Gibbons, President and Chief Executive Officer, to the additional responsibility of Chairman of the Board. Michael J. Jandernoa, who has served as Chairman of the Board since 1991 and who will remain a director, stated, "Based on the outstanding performance of the Company over the past three years, the Directors unanimously felt that the combination of the responsibilities of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in Dave Gibbons would provide the Company with effective and focused leadership going forward."
The Board of Directors also elected Peter R. Formanek as its new Lead Independent Director. Mr. Formanek, the former Co-founder and President of AutoZone, Inc., has been a Perrigo director since 1993 and has been Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit Committee during the past year.
The Company announced the retirement of L. R. Jalenak, Jr., as a director and the election of Laurie Brlas to the Board. Ms. Brlas is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of STERIS Corporation (NYSE: STE) of Mentor, Ohio. Mr. Jandernoa commented, "L. R. Jalenak has served Perrigo well for 15 years as a director and the Company has been the beneficiary of his independent advice, support and counsel. He was instrumental in helping us establish the strong retailer relationships we enjoy today. Laurie Brlas blends an outstanding accounting, finance and business development background with the executive leadership experience that makes her an excellent addition to the Perrigo Board and its Audit Committee. When added to the three other independent directors that have joined our Board in the last year, she gives Perrigo's Board seven independent directors with diverse backgrounds and experience that will provide management with valuable advice and counsel as we move forward to achieve our strategic objectives."
Ms. Brlas, 45, is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of STERIS Corporation, a provider of infection prevention, decontamination and health science technologies, products and services. Prior to joining STERIS in 2000, she was Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller for OfficeMax, Inc. Ms. Brlas holds a B.A. in business administration from Youngstown State University and is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant.
Perrigo Company is the nation's largest manufacturer of over-the-counter (non-prescription) pharmaceutical and nutritional products sold by supermarket, drug, and mass merchandise chains under their own labels. The Company's products include over-the-counter pharmaceuticals such as analgesics, cough and cold remedies, gastrointestinal, and feminine hygiene products, and nutritional products, such as vitamins, nutritional supplements and nutritional drinks. Visit Perrigo on the Internet (www.perrigo.com ).
SOURCE: Perrigo Company
CONTACT: Ernest J. Schenk, Manager, Investor Relations and Communication
of Perrigo Company, +1-269-673-9212, E-mail: eschenk@perrigo.com
Web site: http://www.perrigo.com/