Bill Perez, former president and CEO of Nike, Inc. has moved on to the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company where he has been named president and CEO as well as to the company's board of directors. Bill Wrigley, Jr., who had been serving as chairman, president, and CEO, has been elected to the new full-time role of executive chairman while also continuing his responsibilities as chairman of the board of directors. Both Bill Wrigley, Jr. and Bill Perez will report to the Wrigley Board of Directors.
Mr. Perez, 59, spent 34 years with SC Johnson, including eight years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the multi-billion dollar privately held global consumer products company based in Racine, Wisconsin. In 2004, he joined Nike, Inc., where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer until earlier this year.
“The appointment of Bill Perez to be the first person to serve as President and CEO of the Wrigley Company from outside the family is indeed an historic and important milestone for our Company,” said Bill Wrigley, Jr. “Bill is an exceptionally talented and well-qualified executive who honed his leadership skills in a highly successful, professionally managed family company environment. He is a terrific fit with our company and our culture and he has an impressive track record of building global brands, leading consumer-driven innovation and inspiring employees.”
Bill Wrigley, Jr. added: “Bill comes to us at a time when our business is strong and growing — we have a solid foundation and we are well-positioned for future growth. Our brands are vibrant and we are achieving the goals and aspirations we have set for ourselves in large measure because of a tremendously talented executive leadership team. With our sights set on the next level of growth and opportunity, we've chosen to add to our strengths by bringing Bill Perez to Wrigley as President and CEO.”
In his new role as Executive Chairman, Bill Wrigley, Jr. will be actively engaged in the development of long-term strategy, continued emphasis on innovation and fostering a culture of high performance and generational growth. This new role also will give Bill Wrigley, Jr. an even greater opportunity to focus on key growth strategies that will drive the company's global leadership position.
“To continue to effectively drive our dynamic and highly competitive global company, I firmly believe this is the right time to divide the top leadership responsibilities between two people, particularly given today's commercial and governance climate,” said Bill Wrigley, Jr. “This approach will enable us to divide and conquer the many responsibilities inherent in running this organization and further leverage our many competitive advantages to build long-term value for our shareholders. Our entire Board of Directors wholeheartedly endorsed my recommendation to bring Bill on as CEO and I look forward to sharing a strong working partnership with him.”
“This is a tremendous honor and opportunity for me,” Bill Perez said. “Wrigley's brands are known and loved around the world, the company's culture embodies the values of trust, dignity and respect which are important to me, and there's a long-term focus on growth and people development that underlies the company's success as a global leader.”
“I look forward to partnering with Bill Wrigley, Jr. and working with the Wrigley leadership team to sustain this company's great track record well into the future, ” Bill Perez added.
Speaking on behalf of the Wrigley Board of Directors, 18-year Director Richard Smucker agreed that Bill Wrigley, Jr.'s new role as Executive Chairman and Bill Perez's hiring as President and CEO come at the right time for the company.
“Bill Wrigley, Jr. is a tremendously strong leader and the company's remarkable performance reflects that. Since he took over the company in 1999, sales have more than doubled to over $4 billion, profits have nearly doubled and the company's share of the global chewing gum business has increased in all key geographies. The company has also diversified its product line and is well on its way to achieving its long-term aspirational goals,” Smucker said.
“Having Bill Wrigley, Jr. become our Executive Chairman and adding Bill Perez to an accomplished leadership team will further enhance the company's focused leadership on the products, people and programs that will drive our business, build long-term value for our shareholders and create opportunities for Wrigley's associates,” Smucker added.
Mr. Perez's career began in 1970 as a sales representative in Cleveland, Ohio, for SC Johnson, one of the world's leading manufacturers of household consumer products which markets and distributes its well-known brands such as Edge(R), Glade(R), Windex(R) and Ziploc(R) in more than 110 countries. He served as General Manager of the company's operations in Iberia, Vice President and Regional Director of Consumer Products in Latin America, Vice President of the U.S. Home Care business and Executive Vice President of Consumer Products for North America. He was named SC Johnson's President and Chief Operating Officer in 1993 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1996 to 2004. Mr. Perez served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nike, Inc. from 2004 to until earlier this year.
Mr. Perez is a native of Akron, Ohio and was raised in Colombia, South America. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Cornell University and a graduate degree from the American Graduate School of International Management. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Kellogg Company and for Hallmark Cards, Inc.
