Contact Information: Contact: Chrystie Heimert (802) 658-3773 x620 www.seventhgeneration.com
Seventh Generation Names PepsiCo/Quaker Oats Veteran as CEO
Chuck Maniscalco Tapped to Lead Environmentally Friendly Consumer Products Firm; Co-Founder Jeffrey Hollender to Remain as Executive Chair and Inspired Protagonist, Focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and "Green" Issues
| Source: Seventh Generation
BURLINGTON, VT--(Marketwire - June 1, 2009) - Seventh Generation, the nation's leading
brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products, today
announced the appointment of Chuck Maniscalco, former President and Chief
Executive Officer of PepsiCo's Quaker Tropicana Gatorade business, to the
role of Chief Executive Officer.
Maniscalco, who was also elected to the company's board of directors, will
be charged with oversight for the company's day-to-day operations,
strategic growth and expansion, supply chain and retail distribution
expansion, and infrastructure evolution in the highly competitive and
rapidly growing environmental product category. According to the market
research firm Mintel International, the sector for green
cleaning products grew 262 percent from 2003 to 2008 and is projected
to grow 873 percent by 2013.
Seventh Generation co-founder Jeffrey Hollender will become Executive
Chairperson -- as well as retain his title as "Chief Inspired Protagonist"
-- and devote his full time and effort to advocating for corporate
responsibility and environmental sustainability.
"Jeffrey is a true visionary, boldly introducing a new way of healthy and
responsible living to consumers, and advocating for true corporate
responsibility and sustainable business practices, not because these
philosophies are popular, but because he believes they are the philosophies
that will make the world a better place," said Chuck Maniscalco. "I feel
privileged to be entrusted with this higher standard brand which, with its
mission and proven track record of success, is poised for tremendous
growth. Best of all, I am deeply humbled, and at the same time thrilled to
be a part of the Seventh Generation family and all for which it stands."
"I have successfully guided Seventh Generation from infancy through its
adolescence, but now is the right time for me to step aside so the company
can transition to the next level of growth in its journey," said Jeffrey
Hollender. "We were looking for a special leader -- someone who maintains a
rare combination of unparalleled business acumen with an innate
philosophical grounding in line with our vision -- and Chuck was the
natural choice."
Maniscalco will be charged with driving growth of the Seventh Generation
brand, while staying true to the company's mission. Twenty years ago, the
company launched as one of the country's first self-declared socially
responsible companies. Since then, it has grown to one of the premier
environmentally friendly brands. Seventh Generation brand-name products
include: non-chlorine bleach, 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins;
non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free feminine care products,
including organic cotton tampons. The company dedicates 10 percent
of profits to environmental, health and responsible business organizations
working for positive change.
Maniscalco is the former chief executive of the nearly $10 billion division
of PepsiCo Inc. During his tenure he enhanced a world class marketing
organization, fueling growth and profitability in an extremely competitive
consumer products segment. Maniscalco started his career in market research
in 1980 and moved up the ranks to become president of Quaker Snacks and
subsequently president of the Quaker Oats Convenience Foods business. He
served as President of Gatorade and Propel brands and delivered two-fold
growth over four years while pioneering the enhanced water beverage
category with the introduction of Propel, which became a $500 million brand
in its first four years. Maniscalco assumed the title of President and CEO
of Quaker Tropicana Gatorade where he built a worldwide reputation as a
strategic brand manager. He is also the founder of Manifest Leadership, a
consulting firm dedicated to authentic leadership development.
Hollender will continue to serve as director and Executive Chairman of the
company under a long-term contract and continues to hold a significant
equity stake in Seventh Generation. Hollender recently developed a new TV
show, "Big Green Lies," and his newest book, "Good Company," will be
published in February 2010 by Josse-Bass. Currently, Hollender serves on
the Board of Directors of Greenpeace USA; Healthy Child Healthy World
(formerly Children's Health Environmental Coalition); Vermont Businesses
for Social Responsibility; Verite, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
eliminating labor and human rights abuses; and Alloy Inc., a publicly
traded company.
ABOUT SEVENTH GENERATION
Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of
household and personal care products for your living home. Their products
are healthy and safe for the air, the surfaces, the fabrics, the pets, and
the people within your home -- and for the community and environment
outside of it.
For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine
personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's
website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh
Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the Corporate Consciousness
Report at: www.seventhgeneration.com/corporate-responsibility/2007.