Cintas Founder Richard T. Farmer Retires as Chairman of the Board

October 20, 2009 2:00 PM EDT

Vice Chairman Robert J. Kohlhepp to Succeed Farmer

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Directors of Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) announced today that company founder Richard T. Farmer has retired as Chairman, assuming the role of Chairman Emeritus, and will remain on the Board of Directors. The decision was approved during a Board meeting that immediately followed the company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting at Cintas' Corporate Headquarters.

Farmer established Cintas Corporation in 1968. In 41 years, he watched the company grow from a small uniform and towel supply company to the nation's largest uniform company and a leading business to business services provider with sales approaching $4 billion annually.

Through his experiences growing up in his father's business and the decades that followed, Farmer established Cintas Corporation's rich corporate culture, founded on honesty and integrity. He taught his associates about the value of teamwork, appreciating people, and respecting the opinions of the people who do the job.

Vice Chairman Robert J. Kohlhepp, 66, has been elected to the position of Chairman of the Board.

"There is no one who can surpass the standard of ethical and intellectual brilliance that Bob has brought to every position he has held in the Company," said Farmer. "I am confident that he, along with my son, Chief Executive Officer Scott Farmer, will see our company to continued success, with our rich culture serving as the foundation of that success," he added.

Born in Covington, Ky., Kohlhepp first joined the Company as Controller in 1967. In 1979, he was appointed Executive Vice President and in 1984, became President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1995, he became Chief Executive Officer, the position he held until becoming Vice Chairman in 2003.

Kohlhepp earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Thomas More College and his M.B.A. from Xavier University. He currently serves as director of Parker Hannifin Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Xavier University in September.

About Cintas Corporation:

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6076864&lang=en

    Source: Cintas Corporation

Related Categories

Press Releases

Stocks Mentioned

Add Your Comment

Name

Subject

Body

Verification can't see the text?
click here to refresh the image.
what's this?