HOUSTON, Aug. 15, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- SYSCO Corporation (NYSE:SYY), North America's largest foodservice marketer and distributor, announced today that Debra A. Hamernick has been named president and chief executive officer of Abbott Sysco Food Services, a SYSCO subsidiary located in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Hamernick, who currently is executive vice president of SYSCO's Minnesota operating company, will assume her new responsibilities effective immediately. She succeeds company founder and president Larry C. Abbott, who will serve as chairman of that company until his retirement in the fall of 2005 after a distinguished 35-year career in the foodservice industry.
Ms. Hamernick began her 32-year career at SYSCO's Minnesota operation in 1973 as a member of the administration support staff, progressing to vice president of human resources in 1990. In 1992 she assumed the added duties as vice president of information services and in 1995 she was named senior vice president of human resources and information services. Ms. Hamernick was promoted to the role of senior vice president of merchandising and marketing in 1996, progressed to senior vice president of operations, finance and information services in 2002 and the following year she was appointed to her current position. Ms. Hamernick is an active member of the Women's Foodservice Forum and a past member of SYSCO's Merchandising Advisory Council.
Ms. Hamernick was born in Waterloo, Iowa and raised in Mason City, Iowa and is a 2005 graduate of the University of Phoenix, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration. She and her husband, Lee, are the parents of three grown sons and will relocate to the Columbus area in the near future.
Abbott Sysco Food Services provides products and services to foodservice operations including restaurants, country clubs, healthcare and educational institutions, lodging establishments, business and industry locations, multi-unit chain accounts and other foodservice operations throughout central Ohio.
SYSCO is the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in North America, generating sales of approximately $30.3 billion for fiscal year 2005 that ended July 2, 2005. The company provides products and services to about 390,000 customers, including restaurants, healthcare and educational institutions, lodging establishments and other foodservice operations. For more information about SYSCO, visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.
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