Susan E. Bennett Email & Phone Number

Austin, Tx, Us

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Chicago, Il, Us

Reporting to the CEO, I have responsibility for legal, corporate governance, compliance and privacy.

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Il, Us

Reporting to the CEO, I have responsibility for both legal and human resources (on an interim basis).

Rosemont, Il, Us

Founded in 1936, Culligan is a $500M water treatment business headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois that employs 2500 people in 11 countries and distributes product through 700 franchised dealerships in the North America and Europe and licensees in over 90 countries. • Managed all global legal, compliance, intellectual property, health, safety and environmental, risk management, regulatory product certification and governmental affairs for the Company with oversight for a $6M budget, 14 department employees and outside counsel worldwide. Key Officer involved in all of the important human resource issues.• For nine years served as Secretary of the Corporation reporting to the Board of Directors. Prepared all Board Meeting agendas and participated in monthly operating reviews and quarterly Board meetings. Standing advisor to the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Advised many executives in their presentation and messages to the Board.• Guided Culligan through five ownership changes over 15 years; served on five different management teams; worked closely with two different private equity owners advising on strategic and operating issues. Identified issues such as low morale and potential concerns surrounding various members of the leadership team.• Deep understanding of the dealers and their concerns and needs; was able to develop strategy and led execution to resolve a long standing legal battle. This resolution enabled CD&R to issue a $385M cash dividend, doubling their original investment.• Execute Company’s global business and tax strategy with focus on Bermuda, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Cayman Islands, Italy, the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Argentina and Dubai. Support expansion through new corporate entities in China, Bahrain and Qatar.

• Promoted to Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary for Culligan, replacing previous legal team.• Provided necessary diligence materials for Culligan as Vivendi acquired US Filter.• Resolved 4 significant litigations: an IP/Patent infringement, 2 consumer class action law suits in California, and a suit for retaliatory discharge.• Structured, drafted, and negotiated commercial transactions including research, testing and development arrangements, patent and trademark licensing, distribution, advertising, customer, lease, settlement, marketing, supply, employment, consulting and severance agreements and implemented a consumer finance program.• Responsible for all legal work related to Culligan’s franchise system including drafting the required disclosures, managing franchise relationships and updating policies and procedures to reflect current business objectives.• Responsible for diligence and all ancillary documents required to divest Culligan’s Plymouth Products division, realizing $100M in proceeds and Culligan’s Everpure division, realizing $215M in proceeds.• Created and implemented billing policy and budget requirements for outside counsel resulting in substantial reduction of fees.• Responsible for the acquisition or divestiture of approximately 100 businesses in North America by drafting and negotiating documents, overseeing due diligence, facilitating employee transitions, handling closings and asserting post-closing indemnity claims.• Implemented compliance program and hotline in North America. Conducted numerous investigations and developed training materials to guide associate behaviors. • Developed and presented legal training to empower managers to identify and address issues arising in contract terms and conditions, numerous aspects of the employment relationship and issues impacting commercial and consumer transactions.

Rebuffed by several attempts to acquire Culligan, US Filter launched its residential and commercial water treatment business by acquiring Culligan independent franchised dealers and other “mom & pop” water treatment dealerships. Eventually US Filter acquired enough dealerships to significantly impact Culligan’s revenue and Culligan was forced to deal with US Filter.• Responsible for all legal work necessary to acquire multiple water treatment dealers at the rate of one closing per week without outside counsel assistance.• Advise on all matters arising in connection with acquired businesses.• Maintain compliance with respect to owned consumer finance business.• Led the US Filter’s legal due diligence team on the Culligan acquisition.

Associate attorney offered partnership in general practice, AV rated firm located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Extensive involvement in all aspects of civil litigation including employment, insurance coverage, insurance defense and products/tort liability.

J.D.

B.M., Music