Michael Benard.
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Eastman Kodak has named Gerard K. Meuchner as Director, Communications & Public Affairs, giving him overall responsibility for internal and external communications, government affairs, and executive speechwriting at Kodak. He succeeds Michael P. Benard, 58, who will retire on December 31. Benard is a Vice President of the company and he was named Director, Communications & Public Affairs, in 1994. He joined Kodak as a senior speechwriter in 1986.Meuchner, 43, is currently Director, Corporate Media Relations. In his new position, he will report to Carl E. Gustin Jr., Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company.
David T. Lanzillo, 43, will succeed Meuchner. Lanzillo presently serves Kodak’s Corporate Media Relations department as Director, Corporate Communication Initiatives. He will continue to report to Meuchner.
Meuchner has served as Kodak’s chief spokesman since joining the company in June of 2000. In his current role, he is responsible for media relations policies and counseling senior management on news media issues. Prior to Kodak, Meuchner spent 10 years as a reporter and editor with Bloomberg News, where he was one of the original members of the New York City-based news service.
“Gerard’s knowledge of business and financial markets, as well as his background in journalism, makes him the ideal candidate to lead Kodak’s communications and public affairs activity worldwide,” said Antonio M. Perez, Kodak’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “He brings intelligence, energy and creativity to a position that is vital to the success of Kodak’s digital transformation.
“In his new role, Gerard will benefit from the exceptional contributions made by Mike Benard,” Perez said. “Mike has led the communications and public affairs effort around Kodak’s digital transformation, and has provided years of wise counsel and leadership to the company during a time of great change. On behalf of Kodak, I thank Mike for his service, and I wish him success in his future endeavors.”
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Meuchner holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure University.
“I look forward to the challenge of building on the success of Mike Benard,” Meuchner said. “It is a privilege to have the responsibility of leading Kodak’s communications and public affairs efforts during the next phase of its digital transformation, and I am honored to do so in the company of so many talented communications professionals.
