Heinz CEO named to UPS board
The UPS board of directors have elected William R. Johnson, the chairman, president and CEO of the H.J. Heinz, as a new independent director of the company.
The UPS board of directors have elected William R. Johnson, the chairman, president and CEO of the H.J. Heinz, as a new independent director of the company.
Johnson, 60, will join the board immediately and then stand for regular election to a one-year term at the UPS annual shareowner’s meeting on 7 May. Shareowners of record on 9 March will be eligible to vote on the slate of directors presented at the meeting.
In announcing Johnson’s nomination, the board also disclosed it had been advised by Ben Verwaayen, a UPS director since March 2005, that he “reluctantly” would not stand for re-election when his term expires in May. Verwaayen, a Dutch national, was named the CEO of Paris-based Alcatel-Lucent last fall and has been intensely focused on the demands of his new job. Previously, he had served as the chief executive of the BT Group.
The UPS Board is expected to remain at its current size of 10 members once Verwaayen steps down.
“Ben brought a truly global perspective and keen sense of business acumen to our Board,” said Scott Davis, UPS’s chairman and CEO. “We wish him the best in his new position, but he certainly will be missed.
“We are pleased to add an executive of such experience and skill as Bill Johnson to our Board,” Davis continued. “Like UPS, H.J. Heinz is a global company with a renowned brand and long track record of success. Bill Johnson is a seasoned executive with valuable international experience.”
