EL SEGUNDO, Dec. 17 -- Mattel, Inc. today announced that Kathy Brittain White, executive vice president of e-business and chief information officer of Cardinal Health, Inc., has been elected to the toy company's Board of Directors effective today. Her election increases the number of directors to twelve.
White began her distinguished career in the information technology field as an associate professor of information technology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her foray into the private sector began as vice president of corporate services for Guilford Mills, Inc. In 1993, she joined AlliedSignal Corporation as vice president of information systems and services. She joined Baxter International as CIO and corporate vice president in 1995 and, when Allegiance Corporation spun off from Baxter in 1996, White was named senior vice president and CIO for Allegiance. In 1999, Allegiance merged with Cardinal and White was promoted to her current position as executive vice president and CIO for Cardinal Health, a Fortune 100 company.
"The addition of Kathy Brittain White to Mattel's Board of Directors is directly inline with our strategic initiative of improving the execution of our existing toy business," said Robert A. Eckert, Mattel's chairman and chief executive officer. "Kathy's depth and level of experience in the information technology and supply chain management fields will add an important dimension to our ever-evolving Board."
White currently serves as a member of the board of Certegy, Inc. (formerly Equifax Payment Services) and the Center of Sciences and Industries. She also serves on the Board of Advisors for Compaq Computer Corporation. This year, White was named to Forbes magazine's "Top 25 America's Businesswomen 2001" list. And in 1997, she was named one of the top 10 CIO's in the United States by Information Week magazine.
White holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in education from Arkansas State University and a doctorate in management from Memphis State University.
About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health, Inc. is a leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry. Its customers include hospitals and health systems, drug and medical device manufacturers, pharmacies and laboratories, surgery centers and others in health care. Based in Dublin, Ohio, the company employs more than 45,000 people over five continents.
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The company's best-selling brands include Barbie�, Hot Wheels�, Fisher-Price� and American Girl�. With headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and sells its product in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The company's website can be found at www.mattel.com.
