Meritage Appoints Former X-Rite Chief Financial Officer to Board
of Directors
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Meritage Hospitality
Group Inc. (AMEX:MHG), the nation's only publicly traded Wendy's franchisee and
O'Charley's franchisee, today announced the appointment of Duane Kluting to the
Company's Board of Directors and Audit Committee, effective July 1, 2005. Mr. Kluting is recently retired. From 1992 through 2003, Mr. Kluting served as
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary for X-Rite,
Incorporated, a West Michigan-based developer and manufacturer of color
measurement instrumentation and software used in graphic arts, retail and
industrial applications. Mr. Kluting will serve as an independent member of
the Board.
Kluting also served in various positions with Herman Miller, Inc. for 15 years
including Controller and Vice President - Dealer Distribution, and was on the
audit staff of Seidman & Seidman accounting firm (now known as BDO Seidman LLP)
for five years. Commenting on the announcement, Robert E. Schermer, Jr.,
Meritage's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are delighted and honored that
Duane is joining the Meritage Board. Duane brings significant public company
experience in his tenures at X-Rite and Herman Miller. In addition, his
diversified financial background and experience in creating shareholder value
will make him a valuable asset to our Board and the Audit Committee." Meritage is one of the nation's premier franchise operators currently operating
51 restaurants. The Company operates 48 "Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers"
restaurants throughout Western and Southern Michigan, serving more than nine
million customers annually. Meritage is also the nation's first O'Charley's
franchisee, currently operating three O'Charley's restaurants and holding the
right to develop the O'Charley's concept throughout Michigan. DATASOURCE: Meritage Hospitality Group Inc.
CONTACT: Robert E. Schermer, Jr., CEO of Meritage Hospitality Group Inc., +1-616-776-2600 Web site: http://www.meritagehospitality.com/
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