Zep Inc. Implements Organizational Changes, Focuses Organization on Organic Growth

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Zep Inc. ZEP, a leading consumable chemical packaged goods company that manufactures a wide variety of high-performance maintenance and cleaning chemicals, today announced that it has implemented a series of actions to enhance and accelerate its focus on organic growth.

Over the past five years, Zep Inc. has grown considerably, developed new customers and significantly broadened access to our products, all of which have created added opportunities for future growth. The changes announced today will intensify the company's focus on organic growth while completing and simplifying the alignment of our commercial businesses and our supply chain organizations under two outstanding leaders, Steve Nichols and Jeff Fleck. Additionally, the company has taken the final step in aligning our corporate support functions on an enterprise-wide basis under the leadership of Mark Bachmann and Bob Collins.

Steve Nichols will relocate to Atlanta, Georgia, and lead our commercial organizations including the world-wide sales, marketing, and R&D organizations for Zep^®, Zep Professional^®, Zep Commercial^® and all other Zep Inc. brands.

Jeff Fleck, who already leads our North American Supply Chain, will assume the additional responsibility for customer service and our international operations, and will focus on the optimization of our entire supply chain organization.

"Together, Steve and Jeff will have overall responsibility for the operations of the entire business. Steve's work with our teams and early success in transforming our North American Sales and Service organization, as well as his extensive experience leading and growing sales organizations around the world, make him the perfect candidate to lead the enterprise-wide revenue growth effort," said John K. Morgan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zep Inc. "Jeff has been instrumental in improving our environmental, health and safety record, implementing new quality management systems and enhancing our service capabilities over the past four years," continued Morgan.

Management will be taking additional steps to align our support functions including finance, accounting, legal, information systems, human resources and organizational development to provide more efficient service to the sales and supply chain organizations in support of our organic growth initiatives. Mark Bachmann, Chief Financial Officer, and Bob Collins, Chief Administrative Officer, will lead these support functions on an enterprise-wide basis, completing the alignment of corporate functions obtained through previous acquisitions.

Joe Seladi, who joined Zep Inc. during the Amrep acquisition in 2010, has decided to retire this spring after an orderly transition of leadership. Joe has been instrumental in growing our Zep Professional^®, Zep Commercial^® and Zep Automotive^® businesses into new channels of distribution and integrating a number of acquisitions over the years.

"Joe is well-known and, more importantly, highly-regarded by countless professionals, customers and business partners in our industry. We thank him for his dedication and service to the company and his many contributions. I'm sure all our associates will continue to benefit from the wisdom and experience he has provided well into the future," commented Mr. Morgan.

Zep Inc. management expects to host an investor day in New York this spring, during which time, Steve Nichols and Jeff Fleck will provide additional detail on their long-term strategies in support of our corporate initiatives. More information on the exact date and time will be made available shortly.

About Zep Inc.

Zep Inc., with fiscal year 2014 net sales of approximately $700 million, is a leading consumable chemical packaged goods company selling a wide variety of high-performance chemicals that help professionals and prosumers clean, maintain and protect their assets. We are focused on the attractive industry dynamics of the transportation market and the industrial maintenance and repair operation ("MRO") market, which together now comprise approximately 63% of our revenue with the balance derived from sales into the facilities maintenance vertical. We market these products and services under well recognized and established brand names, such as Zep^®, Zep Commercial^®, Zep Professional^®, Zep Automotive^®, Enforcer^®, Misty^®, TimeMist^®, TimeWick™, Country Vet^®, Original Bike Spirits^®, Blue Coral^®, Black Magic^®, Rain-X^®, Armor All Professional^®, FC Forward Chemicals^®, Rexodan^®, Mykal™, and a number of private label brands. Founded in 1937, some of Zep Inc.'s brands have been in existence since 1896. Zep Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit our website at www.zepinc.com.