First Alert, Inc. announces new management additions; Douglas H. Kellam appointed Vice President of Marketing; Edward J. Tyranski appointed Vice President of Operations

Business Wire, April 16, 1997

AURORA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1997--First Alert, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALRT) today announced the appointment of Douglas H. Kellam, Vice President of Marketing, and Edward J. Tyranski, Vice President of Operations. The announcement was made by B. Joseph Messner, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Mr. Kellam, 38, will have responsibility for retail and electrical contractor marketing. He was previously Vice President of Marketing and Sales of the soft drink division of Austin, Nichols and Co., Inc. of New York City and spent seven years with Pepsi-Cola North America in a variety of marketing responsibilities including Director of Marketing on Brand Pepsi. His previous experience included work with the Clorox Company. He holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management and a B.S. from the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Tyranski has more than 30 years experience in manufacturing and operations. He will be responsible for manufacturing, sourcing, purchasing, and inventory control. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President of North American Operations for the Thermos Company in Freeport, Illinois. He also worked for Allied Signal Corporation, Remington Products, Timex Corporation, Warner-Lambert Company and General Electric. He holds an M.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Thayer School of Engineering.

Mr. Joseph Messner stated: "We are very pleased to welcome Douglas Kellam and Edward Tyranski to the First Alert team, where their years of hands-on experience will prove to be an invaluable resource as First Alert moves to a new phase of corporate development."

First Alert, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of residential safety products anchored by the Company's leadership position in the U.S. residential smoke and carbon monoxide detector product lines. The First Alert. name is considered to be the most widely recognized brand name in home safety.

CONTACT: Mike Rohl John P. Kehoe/Van Negris

First Alert, Inc. Kehoe, White, Savage & Company, Inc.

630/851-7330 212/888-1616