Central Garden & Pet » Central Garden & Pet Company

William E. Brown

CHAIRMAN

Director Since: 1980

Chairman of the Board since 1980. From 1980 to June 2003, Mr. Brown served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and again from October 2007 to February 2013, when the Board reappointed Mr. Brown to the additional post of Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Brown has extensive management and leadership experience with the Company and a deep knowledge of the lawn and garden and pet supplies industries and the financial and operational issues faced by the Company.

Jack Balousek

LEAD DIRECTOR

Former CEO/President of True North Technologies; Former President/COO - Foote, Cone & Belding Communications
Director Since: 2001
Central Garden & Pet Company Committee Membership: Compensation Committee

Mr. Balousek served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Foote, Cone & Belding Communications, one of the largest global advertising and communications networks, from 1991 until 1996 and as Chairman and CEO of True North Technologies, a digital and interactive services company affiliated with True North Communications in 1996. Mr. Balousek co-founded and, from 1998 to 1999, served as an Executive Vice President of PhotoAlley.com, a San Francisco company marketing photographic equipment, supplies and services online. Prior to 1991, he held various senior executive management positions with Foote, Cone & Belding Communications and positions in brand management with the Procter & Gamble Company.

Mr. Balousek has also served as a director of Inuvo, Inc., an online analytics, data and media company, since June 2008 and several private companies. He also served as a director of Aptimus, Inc. (formerly FreeShop.com), an interactive online lead generation network from February 1999 until October 2007 and as a director of Web.com Inc. (formerly Micron Electronics), a web hosting company, from August 1999 until September 2007.

As the former president of a global advertising company, positions in brand management at one of the leading consumer products companies, and a director on the board of several public companies, Mr. Balousek has extensive insight into the global consumer goods market.

Thomas J. Colligan

DIRECTOR

Former Vice Chairman of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, Vice Dean of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School
Director Since: 2015
Central Garden & Pet Company Committee Membership: Audit Committee

Mr. Colligan served in executive roles for 37 years at PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), including as the firm’s Vice Chairman from 2001 to 2004. After retiring from PwC in 2004, Mr. Colligan worked for two years as managing director at Duke Corporate Education before becoming Vice Dean of Executive Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School until 2010. Mr. Colligan currently serves on the Boards of The ADT Corporation, and The Targus Corporation, and consults to the Board of Sharp Electronics. He previously served on the boards of CNH Global, Office Depot, Inc., Schering Plough Corporation, Educational Management Corporation, and Anesiva, Inc. Mr. Colligan is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

As a former senior executive of one of the Big Four audit firms, Tom has a strong financial background and significant experience with complex, global transactions.

Michael J. Edwards

DIRECTOR

Former CEO & President of eBags; EVP Global Merchandising of Staples; President & CEO of Borders, Inc.
Director Since: 2017

Mr. Edwards served as Chief Executive Officer, of eBags.com (a leading online bag retailer owned by Samsonite) from 2015 to 2017. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Edwards was the Global Chief Merchandising Officer of Staples (an office supplies retailer). From 2010 to 2011, Mr. Edwards was the President and Chief Executive Officer, and from 2009 to 2010 the Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Borders Group, Inc. Mr. Edwards serves as a director of Flexsteel Industries, Inc.

Mr. Edwards has been a senior executive at a number of major retailers and has significant experience with the transformational impact of e-commerce on consumers, retailers and suppliers.

Brooks M. Pennington III

DIRECTOR

Former President, Pennington Seed, Inc.
Director Since: 1998

Director of Special Projects for the Company since October 2006. From 1994 through September 2006, Mr. Pennington was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pennington Seed, Inc., a business which was acquired by the Company in 1998. He also serves on the board of several private companies.

Mr. Pennington has over 35 years of work experience in the lawn and garden industry, including 12 years as the former chief executive officer of Pennington Seed, Inc.

Alfred A. Piergallini

DIRECTOR

Former President and CEO Novartis Consumer Health Worldwide; Former Chairman, President & CEO of Gerber Products Company
Director Since: 2004
Central Garden & Pet Company Committee Membership: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee

Consultant with Desert Trail Consulting, a marketing consulting organization, since January 2001 and Chairman of Wisconsin Cheese Group, Inc., a specialty cheese company, from January 2006 to December 2010. From December 1999 to December 2001, Mr. Piergallini served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novartis Consumer Health Worldwide, a manufacturer, developer and marketer of health-related products, and from February 1999 to December 1999, Mr. Piergallini served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Novartis Consumer Health North America. From 1989 to 1999, Mr. Piergallini held several senior management positions with Gerber Products Company, including, at various times, the offices of Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. He also currently serves as a director of Comerica Incorporated, a financial services company.

As a former senior executive of several consumer products companies and a director of other public companies, Mr. Piergallini brings significant experience in general management, marketing, sales and branding and many aspects of the operations of public companies.

John R. Ranelli

DIRECTOR

Former President and CEO
Director Since: 2010

Mr. Ranelli served as Central Garden & Pet Company's President and Chief Executive Officer from February 2013 through May 2016. From 2010 to present, Mr. Ranelli has served as director and previously served as a member of the audit committee for Central Garden & Pet.

Since 2011, Mr. Ranelli has served as Chairman of the Board of Woolrich, Inc., a global apparel and accessories company, and also served as Chief Executive Officer until October 2012. From 2008 to 2012, Mr. Ranelli was also engaged in pursuing corporate acquisition opportunities while advising companies and private equity firms. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Ranelli was Chief Executive Officer and President of Mikasa, Inc., a global dinnerware, crystal and home accessories company. From 1999 to 2006, he served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of FGX International, a global optical and jewelry company. Previously, he served in senior executive capacities with Stride Rite Corporation, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, TLC Beatrice and The Timberland Company. He served on the boards of Amscan Holdings, Inc. from 2005 to 2008, GNC Corporation from 2006 to 2007 and Deckers Outdoor Corporation from 1994 to 1996.

As an experienced chief executive officer of several consumer products companies and a Chairman and director of other public and private equity owned companies, Mr. Ranelli has extensive experience leading and managing all aspects of mid to large consumer products companies.

George C. Roeth

PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Former 27-year veteran of The Clorox Company most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President
Director Since: 2015

Mr. Roeth held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility at The Clorox Company. Most recently, from 2013 to 2014, Mr. Roeth served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. Previously, Mr. Roeth served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, during which time he was also Chairman of the Board for the Clorox and Procter & Gamble Joint Venture. Prior to that, Mr. Roeth served in several senior-level marketing and operations roles at Clorox, including Vice President and General Manager, Vice President of Growth and Marketing, and Vice President of Brand Development, among others.

As a former senior executive of a large consumer products company, Mr. Roeth has a proven track record of delivering profitable growth.

Mary Beth Springer

DIRECTOR

Former Executive Vice President and Officer - The Clorox Company
Director Since: 2013
Central Garden & Pet Company Committee Membership: Audit Committee

Ms. Springer served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of The Clorox Company, a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products from January 2009 to April 2011 and as Group Vice President, Strategy and Growth from 2007 to 2009. Prior to that position, Ms. Springer was Group Vice President and General Manager, Specialty Division from 2005 to 2007 and Vice President and General Manager, Glad Business Unit from 2002 to 2004. Ms. Springer joined Clorox in 1990 as an associate marketing manager for household products.

As a former senior executive of a large consumer products company, Ms. Springer brings extensive experience setting long-term corporate strategy, general management, brand-building and marketing.

Andrew K. Woeber

DIRECTOR

Partner/Managing Director at Greenhill & Co., Inc.; Former Managing Director Morgan Stanley; Former corporate lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore

Director Since 2017

Mr. Woeber has 20 years of experience as an investment banker. Since April 2008, Mr. Woeber has been a Partner/Managing Director at Greenhill & Co., Inc., a global M&A advisory firm, where he is Co-Head of U.S. M&A focusing on mergers and acquisitions across a broad range of industries. From 2000 to 2008, Mr. Woeber was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, where he became Managing Director in 2004. At Morgan Stanley, Mr. Woeber worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Department, Global Capital Markets Group and Corporate Finance Department. Early in his career, Mr. Woeber was a corporate lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, primarily focused on M&A. Mr. Woeber currently serves on the Board of Overseers of University of California, San Francisco, as a member of the executive committee and chairman of the audit committee.

Mr. Woeber brings to the Board of Directors significant M&A, financing and other transactional expertise, which helps guide the Company in evaluating short and long-term strategic opportunities, as well as capital structure and allocation decisions.