JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 13, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PSS World Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq:PSSI) ) today announced that it has reestablished the office of President for its Physician Business, Physician Sales & Service, and its Extended Care Business, Gulf South Medical Supply, Inc. The Company has promoted Edward D. ("Eddie") Dienes, age 49, to President of its Physician Business and Mark E. Steele, age 38, to President of its Extended Care Business.
Additionally, the Company has promoted Kevin P. English, 41, to Chief Sourcing Officer and Bradley J. Hilton, 38, to Chief Service Officer. Mr. English has been instrumental in establishing the Company's global product sourcing operation, having implemented both U.S.- and Asian-based sourcing capabilities, expanding this key company strategy to ten brands representing over 3,000 products. Mr. Hilton, who joined the Company in 1995, has spent the last several years leading the Company's distribution operations and has been instrumental in improving service to its customers while lowering operating costs. Mr. Hilton has also led the Company's efforts to incorporate LEAN management processes and technologies.
All four will report to Gary A. Corless, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Commenting on the promotions, Corless said, "The return to a structure of division presidents better aligns sales, marketing, and customer services to customer satisfaction, corporate profitability, and growth. Each one of these four individuals has had a long and progressively successful career with our company. The changes today reflect both their accomplishments and their abilities to lead and drive continuing growth in our business."
A 22-year company veteran, Eddie Dienes has served as Senior Vice President of Sales of the Company's Physician Business since April 2002. Mr. Dienes served the Company as a Regional Vice President of Sales for two regions from April 1996 to April 2002. Mr. Dienes joined the Company through the acquisition of a New Orleans-based medical product distributor, where he served as President from January 1987 to August 1988. Mr. Dienes earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University in New Orleans.
A 15-year veteran of the Company, Mark Steele has served as Vice President of Marketing for the Company's Physician Business since August 2005. Mr. Steele served as a Regional Vice President of Sales from November 2002 to August 2005. Mr. Steele began his career with the Company in March 1995 as a Sales Representative for PSS Southern California. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego.
A 14-year company veteran, Kevin English has served as Senior Vice President, Supplier Operations of PSS World Medical since November 2007. He served as the Company's Senior Vice President, Finance from April 2004 to November 2007 and as Vice President, Finance from October 1999 to April 2004. Prior to that time, he served as the CFO for Diagnostic Imaging (a former subsidiary of the Company that was divested in November 2002) from November 1998 to October 1999 and served as Diagnostic Imaging's Controller from April 1997 to October 1998. Mr. English was employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, as a Senior Audit Accountant from 1992 to 1996. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Florida.
A 16-year veteran of the Company, Brad Hilton has served as Senior Vice President of Operations for PSS World Medical since April 2003. From June 2000 to April 2003, Mr. Hilton served as the Vice President of Operations of the Company's Physician Business. From April 1998 to June 2000, he served as the Vice President of Operations of Gulf South Medical Supply, Inc. His roles at both Gulf South and PSS were primarily focused on rebuilding the operations infrastructure to drive improved financial performance and overall service. He holds a B.B.A. in Management from Texas A&M University.
PSS World Medical, Inc. is a national distributor of medical products to physicians and elder care providers through its two business units. Since its inception in 1983, PSS has become a leader in the two market segments that it serves with a focused market approach to customer services, a consultative sales force, strategic acquisitions, strong arrangements with product manufacturers and a unique culture of performance.
Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as "expect," "may," "will," "should," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," and "estimate" among others. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those identified in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause results to differ materially are the following: the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the management change described in this press release as well as other personnel changes; fluctuating demand for our products and services; national and global economic conditions, including our and our customers' ability to obtain financing; the introduction of new products and services offered by us and our competitors; uncertainty of the impact of the presidential administration's health care policies and legislative proposals; proper functioning of our data processing and information technology systems; our ability to successfully execute our global sourcing strategy; pricing pressures on large national and regional accounts and GPOs; customer credit quality and our ability to collect our accounts receivable, particularly in states with significant budget deficits; our ability to compete with other medical supply companies and direct manufacturers; multi-tiered cost structures where certain institutions can obtain more favorable prices for medical products than us; our ability to maintain relationships with our suppliers and customers; our ability to retain, and the effects of the loss of, sales reps and key management; our ability to execute our growth strategy; increased operating costs, including fuel prices; risks involved in maintaining a large amount of inventory; our indebtedness may limit our ability to obtain additional financing or react to market conditions; we face litigation and product liability exposure; weather-related events such as hurricanes may disrupt our and our customers' business; we may be deemed to infringe other persons intellectual property; our business is subject to numerous federal, state and foreign laws and regulations, including state pedigree laws and regulations; general business competitive and economic factors and conditions; and other factors described from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PSS assumes no obligation to update the information in this release except as otherwise required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.