H&R Block Names New U.S. Tax Services And Corporate Human Resources Leaders
Additions Further Strengthen Management Team
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) today announced that Nana Mensah was named president of H&R Block Tax Services Inc., the subsidiary responsible for the company's U.S. tax operations, beginning Jan. 6, 2003. In addition, Tammy S. Serati has become senior vice president, human resources for H&R Block Inc., recently joining the company Dec. 1.
Mensah has an extensive background in leading national and international retail service networks that include both company owned and franchised operations. As president and chief operating officer of Long John Silver's Restaurants Inc., he oversaw the operations, marketing, franchise development, and information technology of more than 1,200 restaurants in 36 states. Prior to that, he worked at PepsiCo Inc. as senior vice president-operations and strategic concept development, directing the operations and expansion of the company's nearly 8,000 Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in 93 countries outside of the United States and Canada. Mensah directed regional operations in the northeastern United States for 7-Eleven (formerly the Southland Corporation) and the development of more than 100 new franchises for Wendy's Hamburgers in Southern California. Most recently, he is serving as chairman and chief executive officer of 'Xports Inc., a Lexington, Kentucky-based exporter of agricultural and food products, pharmaceuticals, building materials and construction equipment to Africa.
Serati joins H&R Block from Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Mo., where she was vice president of human resources. In that position, she led the human resources function for more than 2,600 executives and employees in eight global corporate teams. Serati worked 20 years in the human resources department of Monsanto, holding a variety of senior management positions, including vice president of the company's Nutrition & Consumer Sector and director of its Consumer Food Division.
"The addition of Nana and Tammy allows us to further strengthen our management team," said Mark A. Ernst, chairman and chief executive officer of H&R Block. "As we continue to execute our strategies, their experience and insights will complement others in our organization and allow us to build a company that serves clients even better."
Mensah holds a master's degree in computer science from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), a master's degree in econometrics from the London School of Economics in Aldwych, England, and a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from Cape Coast University in Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa.
Serati received a master's degree in human resources and labor relations and a bachelor degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
Both Mensah and Serati are based at H&R Block's world headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.
About H&R Block
H&R Block Inc. ( www.hrblock.com ) is a diversified company with subsidiaries that deliver tax services and financial advice, investment and mortgage products and services, and business accounting and consulting services. As the world's largest tax services company, H&R Block served nearly 23 million clients during fiscal year 2002. Clients were served at the approximately 10,400 H&R Block retail offices worldwide and through the company's award-winning software, TaxCut(R), and its online tax services. Investment services and securities products are offered through H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc., member NYSE, SIPC. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer. H&R Block Mortgage Corp. offers retail mortgage products. Option One Mortgage Corp. offers wholesale mortgage products and a wide range of mortgage services. RSM McGladrey Inc. serves mid-sized businesses with accounting, tax and consulting services.
MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X17773656
SOURCE H&R Block Inc.
-0- 12/19/2002
/CONTACT: Linda McDougall, Media Relations, +1-816-932-7542 Mark Barnett, Investor Relations, +1-816-701-4443, both of H&R Block Inc./