Business Services Industry

Nautilus, Inc. Refines Its Leadership for Improved Operations and Continued Growth

Business Wire, Feb 17, 2006

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Nautilus, Inc. (NYSE:NLS), a leading marketer, developer, and manufacturer of branded health and fitness products, announced it has refined its leadership structure as it prepares to achieve global category leadership as a pure fitness company. The refinement includes the formation of three businesses, and the appointment of leaders in manufacturing and operations, to enhance the company's go-to-market process.

"We are improving our leadership structure to allow vertical teams to focus intently on specific business opportunities, while still achieving the benefits of collaboration and synergy where appropriate," said Gregg Hammann, Chairman and CEO of Nautilus, Inc. "These refinements will improve operating efficiency and completely align the supply and the demand sides of each business. This helps assure all dimensions of our business are moving forward in lockstep and can adjust quickly to market demands."

Fitness Equipment Business

The Company named Tim Hawkins president of the Fitness Equipment Business, where he will be responsible for growth and development of the fitness equipment business throughout the Americas, which represents more than 80 percent of the Company's revenues. His expanded role includes overseeing supply side functions in addition to generating demand that has flourished under his leadership. Hawkins joined Nautilus in 2004 and was promoted to chief customer and chief marketing officer. He previously served as Vice President of Sales for Levi Strauss and as National Accounts leader for Coca-Cola Fountain.

To provide more focus on manufacturing and operations, the Company announced two promotions.

Mark Meussner has been promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing. Meussner joined the Company in October 2005 as plant manager of the company's Tulsa, Okla., facility. He will oversee the Company's three domestic manufacturing facilities with responsibility to assure product lines are produced profitably and with quality. Meussner previously managed five plants for Visteon Corporation, the $18 billion parts supplier to Ford Motor Company.

Dustin Grosz has been promoted to Vice President of Operations. Grosz will oversee all operations, including transportation, logistics and distribution centers. He returned to Nautilus in a full-time capacity in October 2005, after serving as an operations project consultant. He previously served nearly a decade in various operational capacities with the Company.

International Equipment Business

Darryl Thomas has been named President of the International Equipment Business, and he will be relocating to London. His team will be responsible for the Company's fitness equipment business outside of the Americas, including overseeing the operational infrastructure to position the company for profitable growth. Thomas will expand the company's business through commercial, retail and direct channels where fitness consumers shop or exercise. Before joining Nautilus, Thomas served in senior marketing and strategic planning positions with Levi Strauss and Company, and as Vice President of the Burger King international account team for Coca-Cola where he was responsible for the sale of Coca-Cola products to the company's corporate and franchise operations.

Fitness Apparel Business

Juergen Eckmann will serve as Acting President of the Fitness Apparel Business. Eckmann previously served as chief of staff to Pearl iZUMi USA, through its acquisition by Nautilus in 2005. His team expects to continue growing premium fitness apparel sales under the highly popular running and cycling brand Pearl iZUMi, while further leveraging the apparel business infrastructure to roll out additional brands of high-end fitness apparel.

The three business divisions will be supported by teams that provide services to support the entire business. This includes financial and accounting, information technology, legal, human resources, and communications.

About Nautilus, Inc.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., Nautilus, Inc. (NYSE:NLS) is a pure fitness company that provides tools and education necessary to help people achieve a fit and healthy lifestyle. With a brand portfolio that includes Nautilus(R), Bowflex(R), Schwinn(R)Fitness, StairMaster(R), Trimline(R) and Pearl iZUMi(R), Nautilus manufactures and markets a complete line of innovative health and fitness products through direct, commercial, retail, specialty and international channels. The Company was formed in 1986 and had sales of $630 million in 2005. It has 1,700 employees and operations in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, China, and other locations around the world. More information is at www.nautilusinc.com.

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements concerning estimated future sales and earnings, new product introduction, and resolution of operational issues. Please refer to our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. We also caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

 

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