CEO search for OfficeMax, Office Depot merged co. underway

OfficeMax and Office Depot have tapped global talent management consultancy Korn/Ferry International to assist the CEO selection committee in finding a CEO for the combined company in the pending merger.



Dennis Carey, vice chairman of Korn/Ferry International, is leading the search. The CEO selection committee is co-chaired by Office Depot board member Nigel Travis, chairman and CEO of Dunkin' Brands and OfficeMax board member Jim Marino, former president and CEO of Alberto Culver Company.



The committee and Korn/Ferry will consider incumbent CEOs Neil Austrian of Office Depot and Ravi Saligram of OfficeMax as well as external candidates. Both incumbents will remain in their current positions through the search process, which is anticipated to be completed at or prior to the close of the merger.



OfficeMax and Office Depot entered into an agreement earlier this year to combine their companies in a merger of equals. The transaction is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2013, subject to stockholder approval from both companies, the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.