Peiser steps down as ceo of Imperial Sugar

SUGAR LAND, Texas Imperial Sugar announced that Robert Peiser, its president and ceo since April 2002, will reduce his involvement with the company effective Jan. 29, 2008, the date of the company’s annual meeting.

Peiser will assume the position of vice chairman through January 2009 and will assist in strategic projects as well as with industry and governmental affairs. Imperial further announced that its board of directors has appointed John Sheptor, currently its evp and coo, to the positions of president and ceo also effective Jan. 29, 2008.

Peiser joined Imperial in early 2002 and was the architect of its subsequent financial restructuring, its continued balance sheet improvements, the development of an innovative approach to packaging in the consumer and foodservice market and improved operational performance as well as certain business development efforts.

“I am very proud of the accomplishments that our entire team of associates have been able to achieve since I joined the company,” said Peiser. “We transferred a financially weak organization with an attitude of having to make do in the commodity world of sugar into an extremely well capitalized company with a dedication to building on the innovations that we have developed so as to reduce the commodity nature of our business.