Office Depot 2003 Annual Report Download - page 73

71 Office Depot 2003 / Proxy Statement
Should any of these nominees become unable to serve (for
example, if any of them should become ill or incapacitated or
should die), our Corporate Governance & Nominating Com-
mittee may propose a substitute nominee. If a substitute nom-
inee is named, all proxies voting FOR these nominees will be
voted for the substitute so named (unless you specify on your
proxy card to withhold voting for such person). If a substitute
nominee is not named, all proxies will be voted for the elec-
tion of the remaining nominees (or as directed on your proxy
card). In no event will more than twelve (12) directors be
elected at our Annual Meeting.
Your Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR
Item 1 on Your Proxy Card—Election of all Nominees
Listed Above as Directors
Biographical Information on the Candidates
Lee A. Ault III Age: 67
Mr. Ault has served as one of our directors since August 1998.
He is currently Chairman of the Board of In-Q-Tel, Inc., an
information technology company. Mr. Ault served as Chief
Executive Officer of Telecredit, Inc., a payment services
company, from November 1968 until January 1992. He also
was President of Telecredit, Inc. from 1968 until 1983 and
Chairman of the Board from 1983 until January 1992.
Telecredit, Inc. was merged into Equifax, Inc. in December
1990. Since 1990, Mr. Ault has served as a director of
Equifax, Inc. He served as a director of Viking Office
Products, Inc. (“ Viking”) from 1992 until August 1998 when
we merged with Viking. He also is a director of American
Funds Insurance Series, a private investment management
company and Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation, a real
estate investment trust.
Neil R. Austrian Age: 64
Mr. Austrian has served as one of our directors since August
1998. Mr. Austrian served as President and Chief Operating
Officer of the National Football League from April 1991 until
December 31, 1999. He was a Managing Director of Dillon,
Read & Co. Inc. from October 1987 until March 1991. Mr.
Austrian served as a director of Viking from January 1988
until August 1998 when we merged with Viking. He also
serves as a director of Hughes Electronics, a publicly traded
company.
David W. Bernauer Age: 59
Mr. Bernauer is a candidate to serve as a director of our
Company for the first time in 2004. He has served since
2003 as Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer of
Walgreen Company, the nation’s largest drugstore chain. From
2002 to 2003 he served as President & CEO of Walgreen;
from 1999 to 2002 as President & COO of Walgreen, and he
has served in various management positions, with increasing
areas of responsibility at Walgreen since 1966. He serves as a
member of the Board of Walgreen Company.
Abelardo (Al) E. Bru Age: 55
Mr. Bru is a candidate to serve as a director of our Company
for the first time in 2004. He has served since February 2003
as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Frito-Lay North
America. Frito-Lay North America is an $8.5 billion division
of PepsiCo, Inc. and the largest snack-food maker in the world.
He joined Frito-Lay in 1999 as President & Chief Executive
Officer. Prior to joining Frito-Lay, Mr. Bru served in various
capacities for Sabritas, a subsidiary of PepsiCo and the largest
snack food maker in Mexico, from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Bru has
served in various senior international positions with PepsiCo
Foods International since joining PepsiCo in 1976.
David I. Fuente Age: 58
Mr. Fuente has been a director since he joined Office Depot in
December 1987 and until December 29, 2001, he served as
Chairman of our Board, when he was succeeded in that capac-
ity by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bruce
Nelson. Until July 17, 2000, Mr. Fuente also served as Chief
Executive Officer of our Company. He is a director of Ryder
System, Inc., and Dick’s Sporting Goods, both publicly traded
companies.
Brenda J. Gaines Age: 54
Ms. Gaines has been a director of our Company since February
2002. Ms. Gaines has served since 1999 as North American
President of Diners Club International, a Division of Citigroup.
From 1994 until 1999, she served as Executive Vice President,
Corporate Card Sales for Diners Club International, and prior to
that she served in various positions of increasing responsibility
within Citigroup or its predecessor corporations from 1988.
From 1985 to 1987, Ms. Gaines was Deputy Chief of Staff for
the Mayor of the City of Chicago. She serves on the Boards of
the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boys and Girls Clubs, Junior
Achievement and the Chicago Museum of Science and
Industry, all non-profit organizations in the City of Chicago.
Myra M. Hart Age: 62
Doctor Hart is a candidate to serve as a director of our
Company for the first time in 2004. From 1995 to the present
time, she has served, and currently serves, as Professor,
Entrepreneurial Management at the Harvard Business School.
From 1985 until 1990, Dr. Hart was employed by Staples, Inc.
in various management capacities, with a primary emphasis
on strategic planning and growth implementation in new and
existing markets. She is Chairwoman of the Center for
Women’s Business Research, a Trustee of Cornell University,
and a member of the Committee of 200.