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| THE DANNON COMPANY APPOINTS TONY CICIO AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND ANDREAS OSTERMAYR AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING |
| February 18, 2005 |
| Tarrytown, N.Y. |
| The Dannon Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Groupe Danone (NYSE:DA), recently announced two appointments to the company’s executive committee. Tony Cicio has been appointed vice president of finance and Chief Financial Officer and will report to Juan Carlos Dalto, president and Chief Executive Officer. Andreas Ostermayr was named senior vice president of marketing and will also report to Dalto.
Cicio, has over 15 years of valuable global finance and information technology experience that includes senior level assignments at Great Brands of Europe, Inc., HP Foods LTD and Lea & Perrins Inc. At The Dannon Company, he will conduct strategic business planning and be responsible for the financial direction of the company’s U.S. operations. "Dannon is the country’s fastest growing yogurt brand," said Cicio. "I look forward to continuing to grow the brand and manage the company’s recently modernized finance organization." Cicio succeeds Theo Razzouk, who was recently assigned to vice president of strategy. Cicio, who joined Dannon’s parent company, Groupe Danone, in June 1995 served as finance director for Lea & Perrins, Inc., and then was promoted to vice president of finance and information technology departments of HP Foods’ operations in the UK, USA Canada, Holland and Hong Kong. Before Danone Groupe, Cicio worked at the American Cyanamid Company in New Jersey where he spent eight years in various accounting roles and traveling to several international locations on behalf of the company. He began his finance career at Deloitte & Touche where he worked for one year before moving on to the American Cyanamid Company. Cicio has a CPA, BS in Accounting from the University of Delaware and a graduate certificate in Information Systems Management. Andreas Ostermayr Andreas Ostermayr has vast, diverse experience in the global marketing and sales of food products. He is now responsible for leading the marketing team and developing strategic direction for the company. In addition, he will oversee new product development, marketing, advertising and public relations activities for all Dannon yogurt and dairy brands. "Dannon has a strong marketing presence among its competitors. Many innovative and creative campaigns have helped meet and surpass the company’s revenue goals," said Ostermayr. "I’m excited about working with such a talented team and continuing to be the fasted growing yogurt brand in the country." Ostermayr is taking the place of Eric Leventhal who is now president and general manager of Great Brands of Europe. Prior to becoming senior vice president of marketing for Dannon, Ostermayr was the vice president of marketing of Danone Germany GmbH and responsible for introducing the Danone business in Switzerland. He achieved superior results by refocusing the brand portfolio strategy and created new business opportunities by entering the drinks category in Germany. Ostermayr worked at Knorr (Pfanni)/Maizena for one year as business team director before joining Danone in Munich. Prior to Knorr, he was the marketing director of Pfanni/Knorr at Bestfoods where he successfully transferred the business within the merger of Unilever and Knorr. Ostermayr began his career at Unilever in Hamburg, Germany as junior brand manager of Flora (I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter) and progressed, after a step in key account management, to senior brand manager of BIFI/Peperami and Lipton Ice Tea before joining Bestfoods six years later. He holds a Masters of Economics and Business Administration degree from the University of Augsburg in Germany. The Dannon Company Inc. is a leading national producer of yogurt and fermented dairy products in the United States with corporate headquarters in White Plains, NY, and plants in Minster, OH; Fort Worth, TX; and West Jordan, UT. With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome, nutritious and innovative products, Dannon produces about 6 million cups of yogurt each day in 100 flavors, styles and sizes. For more information about Dannon, visit the company’s Web site at www.dannon.com. For more information about probiotics, please visit www.dannonprobioticscenter.com. Groupe Danone (NYSE: DA), is one of the world's leading producers of packaged foods and beverages. Danone's portfolio of brands and products includes national and international market leaders such as Danone® (Dannon® in the U.S.) fresh dairy products, Evian® and Dannon® Natural Spring Water, LU ®Biscuits, and Lea & Perrins® Worcestershire sauce. Group Danone is also listed in Paris, Brussels, Zurich, and Geneva. For more information about Groupe Danone, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.danonegroup.com/. |
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