MWA - Mueller Water Products Provides Update on Leadership Team and Board Refreshment | Benzinga
Appoints Marietta Edmunds Zakas as Chief Executive Officer
Promotes Current Chief Operating Officer Paul McAndrew to President
Welcomes Brian Healy and Christian Garcia to the Board of Directors
ATLANTA, May 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) ("Mueller" or the "Company") today announced that Marietta ("Martie") Edmunds Zakas has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Zakas has served as the Company's CEO and President since August 2023 and previously served as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Zakas' appointment followed a comprehensive and competitive internal and external search process conducted by the Board with the support of a leading executive search firm. In addition, Paul McAndrew, Chief Operating Officer, has been promoted to President. These changes are effective immediately.
"The Board performed a thorough process to identify our next CEO, and it is clear that Martie is the right leader for Mueller," said Stephen C. Van Arsdell, Board Chair. "Many already know Martie well, and few know Mueller better than she does. Under her leadership, despite a challenging external environment, Mueller has delivered strong results with a focus on long-term sustainable growth. In addition, we have continued to enhance Mueller through key external hires, internal promotions and organizational realignment. We are confident in Martie's ability to unlock Mueller's full potential as we enter this exciting next chapter for Mueller and the water infrastructure industry."
Ms. Zakas said, "It is an honor to continue in the role of CEO. Mueller plays a critical role in helping our customers deliver clean, safe drinking water to millions of people. I am excited about the opportunities our talented and committed employees have to build on our strong foundation of industry-leading brands and deep channel and end customer relationships. As we address the challenges of aging water infrastructure across our markets with our products and solutions, I am confident that the Company is well-positioned to continue to deliver profitable growth in the months and years ahead. I look forward to working with Paul, the Board, and the rest of the team as we continue to execute our strategy and enhance shareholder value."
Mr. Van Arsdell continued, "Since joining Mueller in November 2022, Paul has played a vital role in overseeing the Company's global manufacturing operations, supply chain and commercial activities. He brings more than twenty years of leadership experience, demonstrated cross-cultural expertise, and a proven ability to foster growth and create transformative change. In a very short period of time, Paul's initiatives and ideas have revitalized our organization. Our recent financial success is a testament to our team's intense focus on all aspects of our business, which will continue as Martie, Paul and our entire team advance our transformation. We will continue to seek to exceed our customers' expectations by delivering products of the highest quality as we extend our markets through both organic and inorganic growth."
Mr. McAndrew said, "I am thrilled to continue to partner with Martie and our team to enhance customer experience and drive operational excellence in all that we undertake. Since I joined Mueller, we have been strategic in our approach to every facet of the business, which the investment community is seeing in our performance, our distributors and customers are seeing in our delivery times and product quality and our employees are seeing in their daily activities. Mueller has leading brands, tremendous products and exceptional people who will continue to drive the Company forward. The best part is that this is only the beginning."
Christian Garcia Joins the Board as Part of Continuing Refreshment Plan, Brian Healy Elected to the Board
The Company also announced that Christian Garcia joined the Mueller Board of Directors as a Board observer and will serve in this capacity until later this year, when he is expected to be appointed as a Board Director. Once Mr. Garcia is appointed, the Board will be comprised of 11 members, 10 of whom will be independent. Additionally, as previously disclosed, Brian Healy, initially appointed to the Board as an observer, was elected in February 2024.
Mr. Van Arsdell concluded, "As we execute the next phase of our strategy to accelerate value creation, generate growth and expand margins, Christian's strong operational and financial expertise ...