Zodiac Pool Systems Expands Global Organization, Hiring Top Talent

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc. (Zodiac) announces an aggressive plan to enhance the pool product manufacturer's operational capabilities, customer support, and supply chain management. As part of the plan, Zodiac has hired four executives to improve the company's cost, quality, delivery and working capital objectives. Following Zodiac's mission of continued innovation, the new executives will leverage global processes to make Zodiac faster, more agile, and more responsive to the needs of its pool dealer and retailer customers, resulting in higher availability and quality of its products for consumers. The newly hired executives are Joe Linguadoca, Brendan Daly, Jeff Henson, and Suneet Chadha.

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Joe Linguadoca, vice president, global supply chain who joined Zodiac in June, explains that many of the improvements support Zodiac's global mission. "Although already a global company, Zodiac is moving from a regionally-based model to a global organization in all areas: sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and transportation. We are using global best practices to optimize our entire network to better serve our customers."

An important system Linguadoca highlights is Zodiac's new product development process.   Zodiac designs each product to ensure it optimizes quality and value through the entire supply chain. Teams are reviewing both new products and existing products to confirm optimal performance. As technology changes over time, Zodiac will continually innovate all products to ensure top value.

As part of its expansion, Zodiac has formalized a structured manufacturing process this year. Under the direction of Brendan Daly, vice president of supply chain, Americas, who joined Zodiac in December, 2011, Zodiac is focusing on multiple production processes to improve five key areas: safety, quality, delivery, cost and inventory. Daly says, "Our goal is to add more value to our customers by providing better delivery, higher quality, better customer service, and more responsiveness. We already have a good operation, but by adding structured processes, we are drastically improving the factory's discipline and responsiveness to better serve our customers."

Jeff Henson, director of materials and distribution, who joined Zodiac in February, has established structured goals to improve materials and distribution processes. These include achieving zero recordable incidents, right size inventory, improved working capital, and greater than 95% on-time, complete product delivery.

Suneet Chadha, director of quality, Americas, who also joined Zodiac in February, has implemented a quality management system to cover all facilities and globalize the company. This includes the introduction of Key Process Indices (KPIs) for three main quality areas: supply chain, in factory, and in the field. Additionally, Chadha is implementing similar disciplines with Zodiac suppliers to ensure high quality standards in products coming into the company.

"We have made significant investments in restructuring and improvements to keep Zodiac at the forefront of pool and spa product manufacturing," said Bruce Brooks, CEO, Global Pool Care. "Zodiac already has excellent innovative standards, but we are committed to elevating our business to the level of a top tier global organization. Whenever and wherever there is opportunity for Zodiac to be better, faster and more valuable, our internal teams will take it. These aggressive new plans and talented new hires will help ensure Zodiac is constantly delighting our customers with the best pool and spa products in the industry."

About Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc.

Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Zodiac Marine & Pool, S.A.S., is a global leader in swimming pool and spa products and services. The company's comprehensive product lines are marketed under the leading brand names of Zodiac^®, Polaris^®, Jandy^® Pro Series, Nature^2®, and Cover-Pools^®. Zodiac is the leading provider of premium, innovative pool and spa products and is committed to designing and producing the most energy efficient, earth-friendly pool products and systems available.

To learn more about Zodiac, visit www.zodiacpoolsystems.com or call 800-822-7933.

Media Contact:

Alexia Haynes
760-230-2424
[email protected]

Note: ZODIAC® is a registered trademark of Zodiac International, S.A.S.U., used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc.