DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2006--Office Depot
(NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services,
today announced the arrival of Yalmaz Siddiqui as Environmental
Strategy Advisor. He will report to Stephen Sauls, Vice President of
Corporate Relations.
Siddiqui will be responsible for further developing Office Depot's
environmental strategy and integrating its wide-ranging environmental
initiatives into the organization. Office Depot's industry-leading
environmental programs span all parts of the company -- from the
supply chain, to internal operations, to business and consumer
markets.
Siddiqui's role will include increasing understanding of
environmental issues and opportunities among suppliers, customers, and
associates. He will help improve the environmental performance of
Office Depot and its range of stakeholders.
"Yalmaz's role at Office Depot reinforces our commitment to
superior environmental performance," said Steve Odland, Chairman and
CEO of Office Depot. "He comes to us with a very market-oriented view
of environmental issues, and will help us deliver the most
comprehensive and customer-focused environmental program in the office
products industry."
Odland also noted that Siddiqui will now oversee Office Depot's
five-year, $2.2 million Forest & Biodiversity Conservation Alliance
that is in the process of developing critical information, standards
and tools for global forest and biodiversity conservation. The
Alliance is Office Depot's collaboration with NatureServe,
Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy, three of the
world's most respected science-driven conservation organizations.
"Office Depot's support for the Alliance is just one example of
the Company's deep commitment to the environment," Siddiqui said. "I
am proud to be associated with an organization that has not only
blazed the trail in the past, but continues to deliver innovative
environmental solutions for customers and other stakeholders."
Siddiqui joins Office Depot from IBM Business Consulting in
Toronto where he was a Senior Consultant in Customer Relationship
Management, and author of the first global study on the environmental
purchasing of wood and paper products. Before joining IBM, Siddiqui
was a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he
focused on the forest, paper and packaging industries.
He holds a Master's Degree in Environment & Development from
Cambridge University in England, and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in
Marketing & International Business from McGill University in Canada.
Office Depot and the Environment
Office Depot's environmental strategy focuses on delivering
sustainable value to our shareholders and other stakeholders through
transparency, accountability and responsiveness. Key initiatives
center on sustainable forest management, recycling, energy efficiency,
and growing markets for green products. In 2005, the company issued
its second Green Book catalog of environmentally friendly
products -- the only office products catalog printed on elemental
chlorine-free, 100 percent Post-Consumer recycled paper.
In recognition of its environmental stewardship, Office Depot
received the "Outstanding Retailer" Award by the International Council
of Shopping Centers and Environmental Protection Agency as well as the
European Office Products "Environmental Responsibility" Award. In
addition, the company was again named to the FTSE4Good Index, which
assesses companies' practices based on socially responsible investment
principles.
About Office Depot
With annual sales of over $14 billion, Office Depot provides more
office products and services to more customers in more countries than
any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray
Beach, Florida, Office Depot conducts business in 22 countries and
employs 47,000 people worldwide. The Company operates under the Office
Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), and Viking Direct(R) brand names.
Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from
retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. With
over $3.8 billion of sales, the Company is one of the world's largest
e-commerce retailers. As of December 31, 2005, Office Depot had 1,047
retail stores in North America. Internationally, the Company conducts
wholly-owned operations in 14 countries, and operates retail stores
under joint venture and license arrangements in another six countries.
The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.
Additional press information can be found at:
http://mediarelations.officedepot.com. Broadcast quality B-Roll/Video
(digital or tape) is available at www.thenewsmarket.com/officedepot.
Registration and video are free to the media.
CONTACT: Office Depot, Delray Beach
Brian Levine, 561/438-2895
Brian.Levine@officedepot.com
SOURCE: Office Depot
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