Kid Brands Appoints Jodie Simon Friedman as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Marketwired
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ--(Marketwired - Aug 15, 2013) - Kid Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KID) today announced that the Company has appointed Jodie Simon Friedman as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, effective as of August 14, 2013. Marc Goldfarb resigned his position as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to pursue other opportunities. At the Company's request, Mr. Goldfarb has agreed to remain available to the Company as a consultant providing legal services.
Ms. Friedman is a seasoned executive with nearly 25 years of experience providing corporate legal counsel. She has a proven track record at global corporations in industries spanning flavor and fragrance products, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Ms. Friedman most recently served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. In this position, Ms. Friedman provided counsel to executive management and business functions regarding corporate governance and SEC rules, major transactions, commercial agreements, executive compensation, employment law, regulatory matters and compliance. Previously, Ms. Friedman served in roles of increasing responsibility at Warner-Lambert Company, rising to the position of Assistant General Counsel of Pharmaceuticals for Europe and Latin America, where she served as a senior business lawyer with an emphasis on international joint venture and business advisory work. She began her career at Coudert Brothers as a member of the mergers and acquisitions and securities practice teams. Ms. Friedman earned her juris doctorate from the Columbia University School of Law and her bachelor's degree from Brown University. She is a member of the New York State Bar.
Raphael Benaroya, President and CEO, commented, "I join with Kerry Carr, our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in welcoming Jodie to our Executive Team. Jodie is an experienced corporate lawyer and a business professional who has extensive experience providing counsel on a broad range of corporate legal matters in areas relevant to our business, including foreign trade, commercial and financial agreements and compliance. We are confident that her unique skill set will be a valuable asset as we move forward in executing our business strategy."
Ms. Friedman commented, "I am very excited to join Kid Brands as the Company works to progress on its key objectives designed to transform and improve the business. I look forward to working with such a highly energized and talented leadership team, and to help contribute productively to the Company's growth agenda."
Referring to Mr. Goldfarb's resignation, Mr. Benaroya commented, "Marc is a highly capable executive and professional lawyer who has been a great asset to Kid Brands, having provided valuable counsel to the Board and to management over the past eight years. He skillfully led the Company through a number of complex legal matters, while also supporting us as the Company instituted a tremendous amount of change and restructuring activities. On behalf of the Board of Directors and everyone at Kid Brands, I thank Marc for his contributions and dedication to the Company and its shareholders during his years of service, and wish him well in his future pursuits. We also look forward to working with Marc as he continues to provide legal services to the Company."
Mr. Goldfarb stated, "I have enjoyed immensely my eight years working with Kid Brands and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the Company's many talented professionals. Kid Brands continues to work diligently on the initiatives the team has been implementing to transform the business."
Kid Brands, Inc.
Kid Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries are leaders in the design, development and distribution of infant and juvenile branded products. Its design-led products are primarily distributed through mass market, baby super stores, specialty, food, drug, independent and ecommerce retailers worldwide.
The Company's current operating subsidiaries consist of: Kids Line, LLC; LaJobi, Inc.; Sassy, Inc.; and CoCaLo, Inc. Through these wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Company designs, manufactures (through third parties) and markets branded infant and juvenile products in a number of complementary categories including, among others: infant bedding and related nursery accessories and décor and nursery appliances (Kids Line® and CoCaLo®); nursery furniture and related products (LaJobi®); and developmental toys and feeding, bath and baby care items with features that address the various stages of an infant's early years, including the Kokopax® line of baby gear products (Sassy®). In addition to the Company's branded products, the Company also markets certain categories of products under various licenses, including Carter's®, Disney®, Graco® and Serta®. Additional information about the Company is available at www.kidbrandsinc.com.
Note: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Additional written and oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and otherwise. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe-harbor for forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases, including, but not limited to, "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "may", "potential", "should", "will", "would", "could", "might", "possible", "contemplate", "continue", "expect", "intend", and/or "seek". The Company cautions readers that results predicted by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to our future business prospects, revenues, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, interest costs and income are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Specific risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each as filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws and rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
