Jeffrey Kindler Elected to CASA* Columbia Board

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia) announced today that Jeffrey B. Kindler has been elected to its board of directors.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100923/CASALOGO)

Jeff Kindler is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, the world's largest research-based biopharmaceutical company, from which he retired in December 2010. He joined Pfizer in January 2002 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and, prior to his appointment as CEO in July 2006, served as a Vice Chairman of the company.

Before joining Pfizer, Kindler was an executive at McDonald's Corporation, where he served as President of Partner Brands (including Boston Market, Pret a Manger, and Chipotle Mexican Grill) and, prior to that, as Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations and General Counsel for McDonald's. Previously, he served as Vice President and Litigation and Legal Policy at General Electric Co.; was a partner in the law firm Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C.; and clerked for Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr. and Judge David L. Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

"The addition of Jeff Kindler to the board of directors continues our effort to assemble the best and the brightest individuals to lead and counsel CASA Columbia," said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA Columbia's founder and chairman. "In these difficult economic times, Jeff's wide experience, outstanding leadership, energy, and commitment to making sure that children grow up healthy, and drug-free will strengthen CASA Columbia's work in researching and developing proven, effective means to prevent and treat substance abuse and addiction. We are honored to have him join our board of directors."

"Addiction is a disease that touches just about every family. As the former leader of a company whose medicines make a difference in the lives of millions of people around the globe, I have a longstanding commitment to health issues and I am honored to join such a distinguished board that is working to remove the stigma of abuse and replace shame and despair with hope," said Kindler.

Kindler is a director at Starboard Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Southport, Connecticut. He currently serves on the boards of Tufts University and the Manhattan Theatre Club and is a member of President Obama's Management Advisory Board. He previously served as Chairman of the U.S.-Japan Business Council and as a member of the President's Export Council, the Shanghai Mayor's Business Advisory Council, and the Business Roundtable.

He has also previously served as a member of the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Catalyst, the United Way of New York City, the Legal Aid Society of New York, and Lincoln Center.

CASA Columbia is the only national organization that brings together under one roof all the professional disciplines needed to study and combat abuse of all substances—alcohol, nicotine, illegal, prescription and performance enhancing drugs—in all sectors of society. Founded in 1992 by former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA Columbia and its staff of some 60 professionals aim to inform Americans of the economic and social costs of substance abuse and its impact on their lives, find out what works in prevention and treatment of this disease, and remove the stigma of substance abuse and replace shame and despair with hope.

CASA Columbia has issued 76 reports and white papers, published three books, conducted demonstration programs focused on children, families and schools in 36 states and Washington, D.C., held 19 conferences, and has been evaluating drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs to determine what works best for what individuals. The most recent CASA Columbia book, How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents by Joseph A. Califano, Jr., a practical, user friendly book of advice and information for parents, is widely available in paperback. For more information visit www.casacolumbia.org.

*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (also known as "CASA") or any of its member organizations, or any other organizations with the name of "CASA".

SOURCE The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University