Robert A. Peiser, has successfully financed, restored profitability to, or otherwise created value in a large number of companies in a variety of industries. He joined Imperial Sugar Company as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director in April 2002. The company’s beginnings date back to 1843. Its major plant and corporate facilities were geographically located in another era, when sugar cane was a major crop in Texas. Competitive changes in the sugar industry and in retail markets have created many challenges which required new thinking and new approaches.
Prior to joining Imperial, Mr. Peiser served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vitality Beverages, Inc. of Tampa, Florida, a $500 million privately owned beverage company, from July 1999 to February 2002. Mr. Peiser has also been Chairman or CEO at CV Services International, Western Pacific Airlines and FoxMeyer Drug Company. He has also had three tours of duty with TWA, including in the mid-80’s where, as chief financial officer, he was involved in that company's takeover battle with Carl Icahn and ten years later, again as cfo, he was widely credited with being the architect of its Company’s successful financial restructuring.
Mr. Peiser will share his thoughts on turnaround management and leadership in distressed situations, with particular reference to how he has revitalized an historic Houston area company by creating a strong balance sheet, by rationalizing capacity and by creating value added margins in a commodity product line through customer partnerships and creative brand strategies. |
