GNC 2011 Annual Report Download - page 128

Table of Contents
manufacturing company, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and in Lausanne, Switzerland, serving a variety of finance roles, including Assistant Treasurer and
Director—Investor Relations. Mr. Hennion currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Branding Brand, LLC, a privately held mobile and social commerce
company. Mr. Hennion has a BA in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA in Finance, graduating with highest honors, from Duquesne
University.
Thomas Dowd became Executive Vice President of Store Operations and Development in May 2007 (retroactive to April 2007), having served as
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Retail Operations of General Nutrition Corporation since December 2005 and as Senior Vice President of
Stores since March 2003. From March 2001 until March 2003, Mr. Dowd was President of Healthlabs, LLC, an unaffiliated contract supplement
manufacturing and product consulting company. Mr. Dowd was Senior Vice President of Retail Sales from May 2000 until March 2001, and Division Three
Vice President of General Nutrition Corporation from December 1998 to May 2000.
Gerald J. Stubenhofer, Jr. became our Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary in September 2007. From January 2005 to September
2007, Mr. Stubenhofer was a Partner at McGuireWoods, LLP, a large international law firm, and represented various companies in complex commercial
litigation matters. While at McGuireWoods, LLP, Mr. Stubenhofer served as Co-Chair of the firm's Franchise and Distribution practice group. Prior to
January 2005, Mr. Stubenhofer was an Associate at McGuireWoods, LLP. From June 1997 to November 1999, Mr. Stubenhofer served as our Assistant
General Counsel.
Michael Locke became our Senior Vice President of Manufacturing in June 2003. From January 2000 until June 2003, Mr. Locke served as the head of
North American Manufacturing Operations for Numico, the former parent company of General Nutrition Companies, Inc. From 1994 until 1999, he served as
Senior Vice President of Manufacturing of Nutra Manufacturing, Inc. (f/k/a General Nutrition Products, Inc. and former subsidiary General Nutrition
Companies, Inc.), and from 1991 until 1993, he served as Vice President of Distribution. From 1986 until 1991, Mr. Locke served as Director of Distribution
of General Nutrition Distribution Company, our indirect subsidiary.
Guru Ramanathan Ph.D., became our Chief Innovation Officer in December 2009 having previously served as Senior Vice President of Product and
Package Innovation since February 2008 and Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs since April 2007. He served as Vice President of Scientific Affairs
from December 2003 to April 2007. Dr. Ramanathan began his employment as Medical Director of General Nutrition Corporation in April 1998. Between
August 2000 and December 2003, he also provided scientific and clinical trials oversight for the North American subsidiaries of Royal Numico, the former
parent company of General Nutrition Corporation. Prior to joining General Nutrition Corporation, Dr. Ramanathan worked as Medical Director and Secretary
for the Efamol subsidiary of Scotia Pharmaceuticals in Boston. Between 1984 and 1998, in his capacity as a pediatric dentist and dental surgeon,
Dr. Ramanathan held various industry consulting and management roles, as well as clinical, research and teaching appointments in Madras, India, and Tufts
University and New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Norman Axelrod became Chairman of our board of directors in March 2007 upon consummation of the Merger. Mr. Axelrod was Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Linens 'n Things, Inc., a retailer of home textiles, housewares and decorative home accessories, until its
acquisition in February 2006. Mr. Axelrod joined Linens 'n Things as Chief Executive Officer in 1988 and was elected to the additional position of Chairman
of the Board in 1997. From 1976 to 1988, Mr. Axelrod held various management positions at Bloomingdale's, ending with Senior Vice President, General
Merchandise Manager. Mr. Axelrod is the Chairman of the Boards of Directors of National Bedding Company LLC and Simmons Company and also serves
on the Boards of Directors of Maidenform Brands, Inc., FDO Holdings, Inc., the indirect parent of Floor and Decor Outlets of America, Inc., and Jaclyn, Inc.
Since 2007, Mr. Axelrod, through his
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