Press Release Source: Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.

Atkins Nutritionals Promotes Key Executives to Top Management Positions
New Leadership at ANI Set to Bring Controlled Carb Foods to Mainstream America; Dr. Atkins, Noted Cardiologist and Nutrition Expert to Increase His Focus on Philanthropic Initiatives to Support Controlled Carbohydrate Research and Education
Wednesday September 4, 1:44 pm ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Robert C. Atkins, founder of Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., (ANI) today announced the promotion of Chief Executive Officer and President Paul D. Wolff to the new position of Chairman & CEO and the promotion of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Scott W. Kabak to the position of President & COO of the company. ANI is the controlled carbohydrate product and information company founded by Dr. Atkins in 1989.

Dr. Atkins, one of the most well-known and influential cardiologists and nutrition experts in the world, will continue his efforts to combat America's No. 1 public health crisis -- the obesity and diabetes epidemic facing this country. In addition to his full patient schedule, Dr. Atkins will devote even more of his time to controlled carbohydrate research among the medical and health community in his role as the Chairman of the not-for-profit Dr. Robert C. Atkins Foundation (RCAF).

"I have always been first and foremost a practicing physician dedicated to helping people improve their health and their lives, explains Dr. Atkins, "and two years ago I recognized that the company I had founded just a few years earlier required full-time professional management. I hired Paul Wolff as CEO and president in 2000 and he in turn recruited Scott Kabak as COO and executive vice president. They, along with the team they've put in place, have created a strong and respected branded food and services company. I will focus my attention on endeavors that support my lifetime mission to change, for the benefit of everyone, how medicine and nutrition are practiced: taking care of patients, encouraging and funding controlled carbohydrate research initiatives, and writing books and articles that educate people on the health benefits of doing Atkins for life."

"Atkins Nutritionals provides consumers with an increasingly broad range of foods, snacks, and information services that make it easy to follow a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle," says Paul Wolff. "Our food products will be based on the latest scientific research and will taste delicious." During Wolff and Kabak's management ANI has launched over 40 new Atkins brand controlled carbohydrate foods.

In addition to his active private practice, Dr. Atkins will devote even more time to education and research. Dr. Atkins will continue his aggressive schedule of consumer and professional speaking engagements including a series of Grand Rounds in major hospitals and universities around the country. In his capacity as Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. Atkins will work in partnership with Dr. Abby Bloch, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.D.A., the Foundation's program and development director, to review grant proposals prior to evaluation by the full Foundation board. Since 2000, through the Foundation, Dr. Atkins has invested nearly $2 million in controlled carbohydrate research to a number of institutions around the country including Duke University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Ball State University, University of Connecticut and The Elite Health & Wellness Center at Philadelphia's Graduate Hospital.

Dr. Bloch is currently an adjunct professor at New York University graduate school and the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Bloch was the coordinator of clinical research for the GI/Nutrition Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Paul Wolff brings over 15 years of creating and managing health care product companies that serve the specialty nutrition marketplace to his new position as Chairman & CEO. Prior to joining Atkins, Wolff helped launch and was president/partner of Basic Media Group, Inc. (BMG), a specialty nutrition information product company. Prior to establishing BMG, Wolff held several positions at Times Mirror Magazines (TMM), including President of Sports Publishing Group, corporate vice president in charge of TMM's $175 million Consumer Marketing business, and Chief Innovation Officer. Wolff came to TMM from American Express Travel Related Services (AmEx) where he successfully launched, managed and built a division focused on developing critical joint ventures with major corporations. Prior to that he had held senior management positions at American Health Partners and Communications Channels, Inc.

Scott Kabak, who assumes the post of President & COO of ANI, has been an associate of Wolff for many years. Prior to joining ANI, Kabak spent 13 years with Times Mirror, Inc. as a senior executive as well as a member of the Executive Committee of Times Mirror Magazines (TMM). His most recent previous assignment was as President of TMM's International Division where he created the strategy and managed the Company's expansion into international markets, establishing new business in Asia and Europe. Prior to assuming the Presidency of TMM International, Kabak served concurrently as Senior Vice President, Online Development and Senior Vice President, Consumer Marketing and Operations, where he oversaw the successful launch of 28 distinct web sites through in-house development and acquisition. Kabak came to Times Mirror from the National Football League Properties, where he served as a senior executive in that company's marketing and licensing division.


Source: Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.

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