Metagenics Hires New CEO

Effective Aug. 16, 2010, the Metagenics’ Board of Directors is appointing Metagenics’ founder and CEO Jeff Katke as Chairman of the Board of Directors; and Fred Howard, an executive with extensive experience in managing fast-growing consumer health care companies, as the new CEO.

Fred Howard, the new CEO, comes to Metagenics from Carl Zeiss Vision, where he was president of the Americas, Australia and New Zealand, responsible for marketing, sales, prescription manufacturing and operations. At Zeiss, he led the advancements for eyewear, prescription lenses and coatings, lab services and equipment, strengthening the company’s formidable brand, introducing a stream of products and driving commercial innovations and sustainable success.

Howard’s background also includes 25 years at Procter & Gamble, Gillette and Richardson-Vicks. Most recently as senior vice president for Gillette, North America, he was responsible for the Oral-B® and Braun® franchises. In the course of his career, Howard has run businesses around the globe. For two years he lived in Australia, where he was responsible for the suite of Gillette products, including Gillette® blades and razors, Duracell®, Papermate®, Oral-B and Braun.