(MONTVALE, NJ—JULY, 2012) – Benjamin Moore & Co. announced that Robert S. (Bob) Merritt was named Chief Executive Officer and President of the paint manufacturer, replacing Denis Abrams who headed the company for seven years.
"Benjamin Moore is an icon of American industry and a valued heritage brand among paint and coatings products," said Merritt. "I look forward to the challenges ahead, building on the company's successful history, and helping to prepare it for the next 50 years."
Merritt comes to Benjamin Moore with over three decades of management experience in the restaurant and food preparation and distribution industries. As Senior Vice President and CFO of Outback Steakhouse Inc., he oversaw the initial public offering in 1991 of that franchise and its subsequent listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Under his stewardship, the company grew from five restaurants in Florida to over 1,250 locations in 22 countries. The original Outback brand also expanded during Merritt's tenure to seven additional restaurant concepts, including Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Roy's, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. When working for Price Waterhouse, Merritt had clients in various industries, including a large railroad, a plumbing supply manufacturer and distributor and a manufacturer of medical imaging equipment.
Merritt is a native of Washington, D.C. and attended George Washington University, where he received a B.B.A. in accounting. The father of twin sons, he resides in New York City with his wife.
About Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore & Co., a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1883. One of the country's leading manufacturers of premium-quality residential, commercial and industrial maintenance coatings, its products are distributed via a network of independent paint and decorating retailers throughout North America.
Benjamin Moore has been a longstanding steward of the environment with a relentless commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices and the ongoing development of the most eco-responsible formulations possible. In 2012, Natura®, the company's zero-VOC paint, received the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, acknowledging its high degree of sustainability and rigorously tested performance. Other superior products in Benjamin Moore's Green Promise® portfolio are Aura, the über-performance low-VOC paint, ben, and EcoSpec®WB, a zero-VOC paint for commercial interiors. J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Interior Paint Satisfaction StudySM ranked Benjamin Moore highest in consumer satisfaction; it's the second consecutive year the company received this rating. What's more, the Benjamin Moore color offering of more than 3,500 hues is unrivaled, but any custom color choice can be matched, as was done for the White House Oval Office ceiling and trims. The only assurance of getting an authentic Benjamin Moore color is using Benjamin Moore paint, since the colorants and resins are proprietary and uniquely zero-VOC, formulated with the company's own patented waterborne technologies. And, authentic Benjamin Moore colors are available exclusively from Benjamin Moore retailers.
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