Wimm-Bill-Dann Appoints Group Head of Marketing and Innovation
Posted on September 27, 2006 at 08:28 AM EDT

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC (NYSE: WBD), Russias leading manufacturer of dairy products and beverages, today announced the appointment of Grant Winterton as Group Head of Marketing and Innovation effective as of November, 2006. This appointment and the creation of this new position at Wimm-Bill-Dann underscores the Companys strategic focus on marketing.

Mr. Winterton has extensive experience in marketing and sales with multinational companies Wella Haircare, Campbell Soup Company (Arnotts Snacking) and Coca-Cola in Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and China. He also has dairy industry experience with 3 years in both the milk and soft dairy divisions of National Dairies, Australias largest dairy producer. Over the last 14 years Mr. Winterton has worked in a variety of senior marketing, sales and managerial positions in these fast moving consumer goods companies. Mr. Winterton holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia, where he graduated with a double major in Marketing and Finance.

The new position of the Group Head of Marketing and Innovation underscores our marketing strategy to leverage Wimm-Bill-Danns leading portfolio of brands into stronger competitive advantage, and accelerate innovation based on deeper consumer understanding. I am very pleased that Grant Winterton will be leading this effort, commented Tony Maher, Wimm-Bill-Danns CEO. Until now we had three heads of marketing: dairy, beverages and baby food. Each of them reported to their respective business head. Under the new structure, they will report to the Group Head of Marketing and Innovation, whose role is to capture potential synergies around corporate identity, media and advertising through larger marketing campaigns. The Group Head of Marketing and Innovation will report directly to me.

Under Grants leadership we are also bringing together our significant capability in Research and Development, so as to focus on value added innovations that fill consumer identified gaps in the market., emphasized Tony Maher.

Mr. Winterton added, I am very excited to join Wimm-Bill-Dann, which has a leading position in health and wellness, a trend that is growing globally, including Russia. Wimm-Bill-Dann has a number of power brands which provide a good foundation for future growth, and a well developed science capability in healthy foods which can lead to a wider portfolio of health oriented brands. I look forward to working together with each business unit to leverage the Companys high profile, trusted brands and broader corporate identity, and create a focused marketing approach throughout the Company.

For further enquiries contact:

Marina Kagan

Head of Public Affairs

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC

13 Solyanka St., Bld. 2,

Moscow, 109028 Russia

Phone: +7 495 105 5205

Fax: +7 495 733 9725

e-mail: kagan@wbd.ru

Anton Saraikin

Press Secretary

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC

13 Solyanka St., Bld. 2,
Moscow, 109028 Russia

Phone: +7 495 105 5805 (ext. 1699)

Fax: +7 495 105 5800

e-mail: saraikinAS@wbd.ru

Some of the information contained in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to conform them to actual results. We refer you to the documents Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically, the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned Risk Factors in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, and risks associated with our competitive environment, acquisition strategy, ability to develop new products or maintain market share, brand and company image, operating in Russia, volatility of stock price, financial risk management, and future growth.

ABOUT WIMM-BILL-DANN OJSC

Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC is a leading manufacturer of dairy products and beverages in Russia. The company was founded in 1992.

The Company currently owns 30 manufacturing facilities in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as trade affiliates in 26 cities in Russia and the CIS.

Wimm-Bill-Dann has a diversified branded portfolio with over 1,000 types of dairy products and over 150 types of juice, nectars and still drinks. The company currently employs over 17,000 people.

On May 18, 2006, Standard & Poors Governance Services announced the upgrade of WBDs Corporate Governance Score (CGS) from 7 to 7+ (from 7.3 and 7.7 accordingly on the Russian national scale), which makes the Companys score the highest rating in Russia. The increase in the score reflects the effective work of the Board of Directors and, in particular, the real influence of independent directors in the decision-making process and the adherence of the controlling shareholders to the highest standards of corporate governance.

Related Stocks:
Stock Market XML and JSON Data API provided by FinancialContent Services, Inc.
Nasdaq quotes delayed at least 15 minutes, all others at least 20 minutes.
Markets are closed on certain holidays. Stock Market Holiday List
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
Press Release Service provided by PRConnect.
Stock quotes supplied by Telekurs USA
Postage Rates Bots go here
World's #1 Renewable Energy Network
PennWell
Renewable Energy World Magazine International Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo Europe Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo Asia Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo India Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo Africa
RenewableEnergyWorld.com Solar Power Gen Conference & Expo Hydro Review Magazine Hydro Review World Magazine
HydroVision International HydroVision Brazil HydroVision India HydroVision Russia
Twitter Facebook Linked In RSS Feeds e-Newsletters