ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS Company LLC), operator of the world's first pallet rental service providing all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, announced today that Carlos Gutierrez, former Chairman and CEO of the Kellogg Company and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, today joins the company's board of directors.
Mr. Gutierrez has had a distinguished career that establishes him as one of America's most successful and savvy consumer product executives. Born in Havana, Cuba, his family fled to the United States when he was six years old. He joined Kellogg in 1975, at the age of 21, as a sales representative and rose through the company's ranks, becoming its president in 1999 and later its Chairman. In 2004, Fortune Magazine dubbed Mr. Gutierrez as "The Man Who Fixed Kellogg," attributing his success to "taking the slick salesmanship, financial discipline, and marketing savvy that he learned in his youth and blending it with disarming charisma, steely resolve, and an utter lack of pretension that you wouldn't expect in one so nattily dressed." In November, 2004, President George W. Bush tapped Mr. Gutierrez to be his Secretary of Commerce, a post he held for five years.
"I am thrilled to be joining the board of iGPS, a company whose innovation, customer commitment and environmental responsibility represent the future of American business," Mr. Gutierrez said. "The company's growth has been truly dramatic, and I look forward to working with management and other members of the board to help guide the company during this exciting time."
Mr. Gutierrez joins several other prominent members of the iGPS board, including: John Fletcher, former CEO of Brambles Ltd., parent company of CHEP, the wood pallet pool operator. Fletcher also served as CEO of Coles Myer Ltd., then Australia's second-largest retailer; and Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and renowned authority on environmental policy.
"We are delighted and honored to have Carlos Gutierrez join iGPS' board of directors," iGPS CEO Bob Moore said. "Carlos is one of the world's preeminent consumer product executives, with deep insight into business, and he will be an invaluable resource for us."
In just three years, iGPS has revolutionized the way unitized loads are being shipped throughout the North American supply chain, leading a vital shift from the use of wood and other materials, to state-of-the-art plastic pallets with RFID tracking capabilities. iGPS pallets are 30% lighter than wood pallets, saving on transport costs and greenhouse gas emissions. They offer greater durability, superior hygiene and are 100% recyclable.
About iGPS
iGPS operates the world's first pallet rental service providing shippers and receivers with all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags. iGPS' state-of-the-art pallets are 30 percent lighter than wood, which saves on transport costs and helps reduce green house gases. Its pallets are also more hygienic, easier to handle and, because they eliminate protruding nails and splinters, reduce workplace injuries and damaged equipment. Embedded RFID tags enable shippers and receivers to track and trace shipments in real time. And iGPS pallets are 100% recyclable. Launched in March 2006, the company is led by pallet and supply chain veterans with decades of experience. iGPS (www.igps.net) is headquartered in Orlando, FL.
SOURCE iGPS Company LLC
