HealthSouth Corporation Elects Steven R. Berrard and Edward A. Blechschmidt to Board of Directors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb 2, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- HealthSouth Corp. (OTC Pink Sheets: HLSH) today announced the election of Steven R. Berrard, 49, and Edward A. Blechschmidt, 51, to its board of directors and to the special committee of its board of directors, effective January 31, 2004. Berrard is a former vice chairman, president and chief executive officer of Blockbuster Entertainment Group, a division of Viacom, Inc. Blechschmidt is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Gentiva Health Services and former chief financial officer of Unisys Corp.
Berrard brings a strong financial and administrative background to the HealthSouth board of directors. He is co-founder and principal of New River Capital, a private equity fund that invests in both public and private companies at different stages of maturity. He co-founded and worked until 1999 as co-chief executive officer of AutoNation, Inc., which through its affiliated dealers is the largest new and used vehicle retailer in the United States. He also served as vice chairman of Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation prior to its acquisition by Viacom in 1994.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed Berrard to the board of directors of North Broward Hospital District, one of the ten largest public health systems in the United States. He currently serves on the board of directors of Boca Resorts, Inc. and served on the board of directors of Birmingham Steel Corp.
Berrard held various finance positions in his career, including chief financial officer of Blockbuster. He holds an accounting degree from Florida Atlantic University and has worked as an auditor for Coopers & Lybrand, LLP
Blechschmidt brings extensive experience across diverse industries and a strong healthcare, financial and technology background to the HealthSouth board. Under Blechschmidt's leadership, Gentiva Health's market valuation more than tripled, and the company was named to Fortune magazine's prestigious "Fortune 1000" list.
Blechschmidt served as chief executive officer and director of Olsten Corporation. He also served as president and chief executive officer of Siemens Nixdorf Americas and Siemens' Pyramid Technology. Prior to Siemens, he spent more than 20 years with Unisys Corp., a global provider of information technology and consulting services. He has chaired Unisys' worldwide corporate quality council and was a member of the board's ethics committee. Blechschmidt serves on the boards of directors of Gentiva Health Services, Inc., Neoforma, Inc., Lionbridge Technologies, Inc., and Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp.
"Steve and Ed bring extensive financial, administrative, and healthcare experience to the board," said Joel C. Gordon, acting HealthSouth chairman of the board. "We are very pleased to have them join us as new independent directors, and we look forward to their help in continuing to develop HealthSouth's platform for future growth and success."
The addition of the two new directors is another step in the board transition plan announced in December 2003 and a result of the company's ongoing efforts to bring on more independent directors and to strengthen the company's governance program.
About HealthSouth
HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, with nearly 1,700 locations nationwide and abroad. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com .
CONTACT:
Andy Brimmer
HealthSouth Corp.
205-410-2777.
SOURCE HealthSouth Corporation
Andy Brimmer of HealthSouth Corp., +1-205-410-2777
healthsouth.com |
