RG Global Lifestyles Names CEO, New Chair and Board Member
May 18 2007RG Global Lifestyles (OTCBB: RGBL) (“RG”) announced today that the board of directors has voted to name Grant King as RG Global’s CEO. They also appointed RG Chief Technology Officer Juzer Jangbarwala as Chairman of the Board and David L. Koontz has been appointed as the newest member of the Board of Directors. Mr. King had been the Acting CEO since CEO Lou Knickerbocker’s death on April 24th. Mr. Koontz’s appointment fills the seat on the board vacated by Horst Geicke.
Mr. King stated, “We believe David’s extensive corporate finance and director experience with rapidly growing small cap companies in numerous business sectors, both domestically and abroad, will help ensure that Lou’s vision will be carried out. The addition of David further strengthens our board and better prepares us to manage our growth.”
Mr. Koontz was recommended for RG Global’s board to assist during this critical transition and growth period by Mr. Horst Geicke, a former RG board member and founder of RG Global. Mr. Geicke continues to support and advise RG and remains a substantial shareholder, with holdings almost unchanged since retiring as a director of RG in October 2006. He currently is a partner of a private fund management firm with US $2.5 billion of assets under management (AUM).
”I have great confidence in RG’s business plan going forward,” Mr. Geicke said. “I believe there is tremendous potential for RG’s water treatment technologies and will assist RG Global by introducing them to contacts in Asia when appropriate.”
Mr. King noted, “Over the past two years, Lou spearheaded a strategic reorganization of RG Global that included the development of multiple business concepts that can now stand on their own merits. At this critical time, when we are very close to realizing the fruits of his labor and propelling RG Global to an entirely new level, I’m honored that RG’s board has appointed me to lead RG Global in the execution and expansion of its strategic vision.”
Mr. Jangbarwala said, “The transitions in management are going smoothly for RG and the Company is progressing at a good pace in contract negotiations for our Catalyx coal bed methane (CBM) water treatment technology and Aquair® water generation and purification systems. Construction for our first Catalyx CBM plant is proceeding on schedule.”
A native of New Zealand, Mr. King has more than 30 years of executive management experience, including day-to-day operations, business development, finance and sales and marketing in multi-million dollar companies spanning the globe. He has a successful track record as an entrepreneur, including founding Grant King Creations, a couturier jewelry company that merged to form publicly traded Jewelmark International, and Grant King International, which later became L.L. Knickerbocker Thailand