Board leadership transitions at The Vitamin Shoppe

The Vitamin Shoppe, a leading specialty retailer and manufacturer of nutritional products, today announced a change in the board of directors leadership, consistent with best-in-class corporate governance practices. John Bowlin, who has been a board member since 2014 and lead director since January 2016, has assumed the role of non-executive chairman of the board effective June 7, 2016 from Richard Markee, who was non-executive chairman of the board since January 2016 and will remain a board member. Mr. Markee was previously executive chairman of the board from 2011 to December 2015.  Prior to that, he was non-executive chairman of the board and a director from April 2007 to September 2009. From September 2009 to April 2011, he served as chief executive officer and as chairman of the board.

Colin Watts, chief executive officer of the Vitamin Shoppe, commented: "As we continue on our multi-year reinvention journey, we are very pleased with the smooth transition from Rick to John in the Chairman role. We look forward to John's oversight expertise in his new and expanded role as non-executive chairman of the board." Mr. Watts further commented, "Under Rick's close to one decade of stewardship, the Vitamin Shoppe has doubled its revenue from $500 million to slightly over $1.0 billion. With his new role, the leadership team will continue to benefit from Rick's ongoing guidance and valuable insight."