Cherokee International Corp. announced several changes to its Board of Directors. Edward Philip Smoot has been appointed to the Board effective December 4, 2006. He will serve on the Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, and will serve as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Smoot replaces current board member, Anthony Bloom, who has served on Cherokee's Board since April 1999, and resigned December 4, 2006.
Previously, Smoot served as President, CEO and Chairman of San Diego-based Anacomp, Inc. His responsibilities included overall corporate strategy and management of the day-to-day operations of Anacomp's global business units. Smoot has spent the majority of his 40-year career in global manufacturing and service-related businesses.
Current board member, Raymond Meyer, has been appointed to the position of Chairman of the Board effective December 4, 2006. He will serve on all committees and will chair the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Meyer joined Cherokee's Board in December 2004, and replaces Kenneth Kilpatrick who has served as Chairman since February 2005. Kilpatrick remains a member of Board of Directors.
"We welcome Phil as our newest Board member and look forward to his counsel and advice as he assumes the position of Chairman of the Audit Committee," said Jeffrey M. Frank, Cherokee's President and CEO. "Phil's experience in global marketing and operations, along with his financial expertise, will add value and resources to our team. We are also very pleased that Ray Meyer has agreed to move to the position of Chairman. His 30-plus years of electronics industry experience and his leadership skills will be instrumental in guiding Cherokee in the coming years."
Frank added, "We were fortunate to have Tony Bloom serve on our board since 1999. Tony lives in London and over the last seven years has made a tremendous contribution to Cherokee and its shareholders. I want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Tony for his leadership, dedication, contribution and commitment to Cherokee."
