NEWS FROM:

Location Promotion Switzerland

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Ecolab Establishes EMEA Headquarters in Switzerland

Staffing to exceed 100 by year end 2008

 

NEW YORK, May 13 – Ecolab Inc. the leading provider of cleaning, food safety and health protection products and services for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare and industrial markets has established its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters in Switzerland, reports Mario Brossi of the Foreign Investment Agency Location Promotion Switzerland. The new offices in the Zurich suburb of Wallisellen will house the EMEA leadership team whose focus is to drive the strategic leadership and management of the region, Mr. Brossi added.

 

Ecolab EMEA President Jim White commented on the move saying, “After undergoing an extensive evaluation process to find an ideal location, Ecolab selected the Zurich area because of its consistent ranking as one of the best business locations in the world, as well as the outstanding quality of life it offers our associates. These features will help us attract and retain world-class and diverse talent.

 

“Other important criteria included its central location, excellent public transportation system, proximity to our regional customers and a diversity of housing options,” Mr. White said. “The presence of so many other headquarter operations in the Zurich area also served to reinforce our conviction that this is the right location for our EMEA activities.”

 

Ecolab, with world headquarters in St. Paul, MN, has been operating in the EMEA region for more than 60 years and is represented in 35 countries in the region. It employs approximately 7,000 associates throughout the EMEA region and serves diversified market segments providing food safety, sanitation and health protection solutions to many of the world’s best known brands. With sales of $5.5 billion and more than 14,000 sales and-service associates, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection control products and services in more that 160 countries. More news and information is available at www.ecolab.com.

 

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Contacts:

Ecolab Europe: Christine Kreis-Saunders + 41 43 355-1931

Location Promotion Switzerland: John Williamson + 908 730-9622