Spectrum Brands home & garden president resigns

CHICAGO, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Spectrum Brands Inc SPC.N said on Friday that the president of its home and garden unit resigned after 19 months at the company and a year in her current position.

Spectrum, the maker of Rayovac batteries and Spectracide lawn and garden products, said Amy Yoder resigned from her post as president of United Industries, the company's home and garden business unit, effective Oct. 8, to pursue other opportunities.

David Lumley, president of Spectrum's battery and personal care unit, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the home and garden unit along with his current role.

Spectrum added that Lumley will also lead the effort to review the home and garden unit as Spectrum tries to make the business "more focused and cost effective."

Yoder joined Spectrum in March 2007 and was named president of United Industries in October 2007.

Spectrum called off a plan to sell its lawn and garden products business in May, pointing to rocky conditions in the financial markets for the possibility that it may not be able sell the business at an acceptable price.

In July, it ended an agreement to sell its pet supplies business to Salton Inc SFPI.PK.

In August, Spectrum posted a worse-than-expected quarterly profit, hurt by weakness in the home and garden business.

Under a separation agreement dated Oct. 9, Yoder is entitled to $500,000 in continued monthly salary payments, a $225,000 payout payable on Dec. 31, and certain bonus payments and other benefits, including a 15-month continuation of her health benefits.

Shares of Spectrum closed at $1.20 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. The shares traded at $6.03 a year ago.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl, editing by Dave Zimmerman)