SACOBSERVER.COM STAFF REPORT

Samuel E. Mathis Jr. appointed to the newly created position of Vice President of Diversity.

In developing a diversity plan, Office Depot recently appointed Samuel E. Mathis Jr. as the Vice President of Diversity. In this newly created role, Mathis will oversee and direct all of the Office Depot's diversity programs as well as corporate diversity training and minority recruitment.

"Sam brings with him broad business experience and a strategic understanding of how to integrate diversity throughout a complex organization," said Bruce Nelson, Chairman and CEO of Office Depot.

While this position is newly created, Mathis is no stranger to heading diversity programs, having previously worked for over nineteen years as Vice President of Diversity and Community Affairs of Darden Restaurants. Mathis helped to diversify the Darden workplace and increase diversity efforts in the communities throughout the country. Darden Restaurants, which includes Red Lobster and Olive Garden, comprises approximately 1,100 restaurants and over 120,000 employees.

Mathis, age 47, holds a bachelor's of architecture from Kansas State University and a master's degree in business administration from the Rollins College. He is married with two children.