Charlotte, N.C., USA - August 20, 2012, Charlotte, N.C., USA - Swisher Hygiene Inc., a provider of essential hygiene and sanitation products and services, announced that Steven Berrard is stepping down as president and chief executive officer of the company, effective immediately.
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Mr. Berrard has served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Swisher International since 2004. He is currently also Managing Partner of private equity fund New River Capital Partners, which he co-founded in 1997, director and Audit Committee member of Walter Investment Management Corp. and director of Pivotal Fitness.
Throughout most of the 1980's, Mr. Berrard served as President of Huizenga Holdings, Inc. as well as in various positions with subsidiaries of Huizenga Holdings. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of both Blockbuster Entertainment Group (a division of Viacom, Inc.) and Jamba, Inc. (parent company of Jamba Juice Company), and co-founded and served as co-Chief Executive Officer of retail automotive industry leader AutoNation, Inc. Mr. Berrard has served as director of numerous public and private companies including Viacom, Inc., Boca Resorts, Inc., Birmingham Steel Inc. and HealthSouth Corp.
Mr. Berrard combines this experience and expertise with experience as a public company director through his board memberships at Jamba, Inc., Walter Investment Management Corp., HealthSouth Corp., Birmingham Steel Inc., Boca Resorts, Inc. and Viacom, Inc. Mr. Berrard also has experience and knowledge leading public companies from the early stages of development to the position of an industry leader based on his work with AutoNation, Inc. and Blockbuster Entertainment Group. Mr. Berrard will continue his service as a member of the Board of Directors.
Also effective immediately, the Board of Directors appointed Thomas Byrne, Swisher Hygiene's current Executive Vice President, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Byrne has served as Executive Vice President of Swisher Hygiene since November 2010. Prior to that time, Mr. Byrne served as Senior Vice President of Swisher International, Inc. and as a director of Swisher International, Inc. from 2004 until November 2010. He has served as a director of numerous public and private companies and has extensive experience in public equity investment and accounting.
Mr. Byrne is a director of ITC Learning, Pivotal Fitness and the Private Equity Committee of the University of Florida Foundation, and also served as a director of Jamba, Inc. from 2006 to 2010. Previously, Mr. Byrne was Administrative Partner of New River Capital Partners, a private equity fund, which he co-founded in 1997, Vice Chairman of Blockbuster Entertainment Group (a division of Viacom, Inc.) and was also President of the Viacom Retail Group. ■