John Heil, President of Spectrum Brands’ United Pet Group Subsidiary and Pet Industry Leader, to retire in March 2013

John Heil, President of Spectrum Brands’ United Pet Group Subsidiary and Pet Industry Leader, to retire in March 2013

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a global consumer products company with market-leading brands, announced today that John A. Heil, President of its United Pet Group subsidiary, a member of the Company’s Executive Committee and a long-time pet industry leader, has finalized plans to retire for personal reasons, effective March 31, 2013. Mr. Heil will continue as a consultant to Spectrum Brands and Chief Executive Officer Dave Lumley.
 
Barry Seenberg, United Pet North America Vice President and General Manager, will assume responsibilities for the division’s North American business in addition to global financial consolidation. He will report to Dave Lumley, Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands Holdings. Andreas Rouve, Managing Director of Europe, will maintain his current responsibility for the European and Asian Pet businesses and continue to report to Mr. Lumley. The new Pet division management structure was instituted in recent months by Mr. Heil to specifically address his stated desire of more than a year ago to eventually retire.
 
“John has made significant, valuable and lasting contributions to the growth and strategic development of our Company,” said Mr. Lumley. “John recently completed the Pet division’s multi-year global integration and reorganization, and the Pet division delivered record sales and profits in fiscal 2012. We thank him for his leadership and contribution and wish him well. We are grateful that he will remain in an advisory role.”
 
David Maura, Chairman of Spectrum Brands and Executive Vice President and Director of Harbinger Group, Inc. (NYSE: HRG), Spectrum Brands’ majority shareholder, said, “We join in saluting John for his outstanding service to Spectrum Brands. Under John’s leadership, our world-class pet supplies division has grown and been further streamlined along with, more recently, a reinvigoration of the aquatics business. We wish John the very best in his future endeavors.”
 
Mr. Heil, 60, was appointed President, Global Pet Supplies and Co-Chief Operating Officer in January 2007. He joined Spectrum Brands concurrent with the Company's February 2005 acquisition of United Industries, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Industries' United Pet Group. Mr. Heil joined United Pet Group as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in June 2000. United Pet Group was subsequently acquired by United Industries in 2004.
 
Previously, Mr. Heil spent 25 years with the H.J. Heinz Company in various executive management positions, including President and Managing Director of Heinz Pet Products, President of Heinz Specialty Pet, and Executive Vice President of StarKist Seafood.
 
Mr. Heil is a member of the Board of Directors of VCA Antech Inc. (NASDAQ: WOOF) and Temper-Pedic International (NASDAQ: TPX). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Lycoming College.
 

Source: Business Wire

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