John Heil, President of Spectrum Brands’ United Pet Group Subsidiary and Pet Industry Leader, to Retire in March 2013 and Continue as Advisor to CEO
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB), 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.
About United Pet Group
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio and with fiscal 2012 net sales of $616
million, United Pet Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands
Holdings, Inc., and is the leading manufacturer of consumer products for
the pet supply markets globally. United Pet Group provides its customers
with innovative products of outstanding quality for pet owners,
including dogs, cats, birds, small animals, fish and reptiles. Its
many widely trusted brands, including Tetra®, Marineland®, Nature’s
Miracle®, Dingo®, 8-in-1® and FURminator®, are well recognized by
consumers for delivering exceptional value and trusted results. United
Pet Group’s passion and long-standing commitment to quality and value
has earned the confidence of its global retail partners, who count on
United Pet Group to deliver innovative and highly profitable products,
customized solutions and merchandising excellence. For more information,
visit www.unitedpetgroup.com.
About Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.
Spectrum Brands Holdings, a member of the Russell 2000 Index, is a
global and diversified consumer products company and a leading supplier
of consumer batteries, residential locksets, residential builders’
hardware, faucets, shaving and grooming products, personal care
products, small household appliances, specialty pet supplies, lawn and
garden and home pest control products, and personal insect repellents.
Helping to meet the needs of consumers worldwide, our Company offers a
broad portfolio of market-leading, well-known and widely trusted brands
including Rayovac®, Kwikset®, Weiser®, Baldwin®, National Hardware®,
Pfister®, Remington®, Varta®, George Foreman®, Black & Decker®,
Toastmaster®, Farberware®, Tetra®, Marineland®, Nature’s Miracle®,
Dingo®, 8-in-1®, FURminator®, Littermaid®, Spectracide®, Cutter®,
Repel®, Hot Shot® and Black Flag®. Spectrum Brands' products are sold by
the world's top 25 retailers and are available in more than one million
stores in approximately 140 countries. Spectrum Brands Holdings
generated net sales of approximately $3.25 billion in fiscal 2012. On a
pro forma basis following our Company’s December 2012 acquisition of the
Hardware & Home Improvement Group (HHI) from Stanley Black & Decker,
Spectrum Brands had net sales of more than $4 billion for fiscal 2012.
For more information, visit www.spectrumbrands.com.