Wrigley Announces Retirement of Surinder Kumar and Succession Plans for Chief Innovation...

Wrigley Announces Retirement of Surinder Kumar and Succession Plans for Chief
Innovation Officer

CHICAGO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Surinder Kumar, Chief
Innovation Officer, will retire from the Wrigley Company on July 1, 2008, and
Rob Peterson, currently Vice President - New Products and Packaging, will
succeed him in this position.
Kumar joined Wrigley in 2000, and served as the Company's first-ever Chief
Innovation Officer.
"It's been a privilege to work with Surinder for the past seven years,"
noted Bill Wrigley, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. "Back
in 2000, Surinder was one of the first executives I recruited to be a part of
our newly formed Executive Leadership Team. With his outstanding leadership
skills and boundless energy and creativity, he built a world-class Innovation
function and team here at Wrigley. We sincerely appreciate the lasting impact
his contributions will have on our business and wish for him the very best in
the future."
"Surinder will leave behind a tremendous legacy at Wrigley," added Bill
Perez, President and CEO. "His presence and counsel will be missed. He
empowered his team to take action, deliver results, and drive growth, which
has been reflected in the Company's strong business performance over the past
seven years."
Peterson has been part of the Wrigley Innovation Team since 2006. Prior
to joining Wrigley, he led technical organizations at Pactiv, Newell
Rubbermaid, and Procter & Gamble. He is being immediately promoted to the
position of Vice President - Innovation, and will work closely with Kumar over
the next six months to transition responsibilities. Peterson will assume the
title of Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, reporting directly to
Bill Perez, upon Kumar's retirement in July.
Commenting on Peterson's appointment, Surinder Kumar stated, "Rob
represents the optimal combination of business acumen, leadership skills, and
technical capabilities necessary to take the Wrigley Innovation organization
to even greater heights."
About Wrigley
The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a
wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies,
lollipops, and chocolate. The Company reported global sales of nearly
$4.7 billion last year and distributes its world-famous brands in more than
180 countries. Three of these brands -- Wrigley's Spearmint(R), Juicy Fruit,
and Altoids -- have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other
well-loved brands include Doublemint, Life Savers(R), Big Red(R), Boomer(R),
Pim Pom(R), Winterfresh, Extra, Freedent(R), Hubba Bubba(R), Orbit, Excel,
Creme Savers, Eclipse, Airwaves(R), Solano(R), Sugus(R), P.K.(R), Cool Air(R)
and 5TM.
SOURCE The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company

Christopher Perille, Senior Director - External Relations of The Wm. Wrigley
Jr. Company, +1-312-645-4077