The Board of Directors of Ecolab Inc. announced that it has appointed Michael Larson to the Ecolab board.
Mr. Larson is Chief Investment Officer toWilliam H. Gates III and the Business Manager ofCascade Investment, L.L.C., inKirkland, WA. He has been responsible for Mr. Gates' non-Microsoft investments as well as the assets of theBill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust since 1995. Previously, Larson was withHarris Investment Management, Putnam Investment Management andARCO. He also serves as a director of AutoNation, Inc.; Republic Services, Inc.; Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.; and Fomento Mexicano Economico,S.A.B. de C.V.
Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented on Larson's appointment, saying, "We are very pleased to have Michael join Ecolab's board. He adds valued public company board experience as well as a long-term shareholder perspective to our board. We look forward to his counsel as we further develop our aggressive growth plans."
Larson's appointment increases the size of Ecolab's Board to 15 from 14 members.