DALLAS, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc.
(NYSE: FRZ) ("Reddy Ice" or the "Company") announced today that Paul D. Smith
has been appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to serve as
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective
September 15, 2008. Mr. Smith has extensive experience in operations and
distribution in both the consumer products and beverage industries with
companies such as Procter & Gamble, Pepsico, Inc. and Cadbury Schweppes PLC.
He most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, Sales Operations
and Supply Chain of Cadbury Schweppes PLC, the multinational consumer products
company.
The position of Chief Operating Officer had remained unfilled following
the departure of the prior Chief Operating Officer from the Company in January
2008. The appointment of Mr. Smith followed an extensive search, led by
Gilbert M. Cassagne, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and
the other members of the Company's Board of Directors, for an appropriate
candidate.
"Paul Smith brings broad operational and commercial experience and a track
record of accomplishment to our Company," commented Mr. Cassagne. "Paul is a
valuable addition to the leadership of the Company, and I look forward to
working with Paul to achieve the Company's strategic objectives."
"I want to thank the Board for this opportunity," noted Mr. Smith. "I
look forward to working with Gil and the Reddy Ice team to build on the
Company's heritage and past successes and contributing my experience to the
Company's future endeavors."
About the Company
Reddy Ice is the largest manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice in
the United States. With over 2,000 year-round employees, the Company sells
its products primarily under the widely known Reddy Ice(R) brand to
approximately 82,000 locations in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The
Company provides a broad array of product offerings in the marketplace through
traditional direct store delivery, warehouse programs, and its proprietary
technology, The Ice Factory(R). Reddy Ice serves most significant consumer
packaged goods channels of distribution, as well as restaurants, special
entertainment events, commercial users and the agricultural sector.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains various "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are based on management's belief as well as
assumptions made by and information currently available to management.
Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements contain certain
risks, uncertainty and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary materially from those expected.
SOURCE Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc.
