Michael C. Nichols, Senior Vice President, Administration, General Counsel And Corporate Secretary, Announces Retirement

HOUSTON, Nov. 18, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) announced today that Michael C. Nichols, senior vice president, administration, general counsel and corporate secretary, has announced his plan to retire effective December 31, 2010. Russell T. Libby, currently vice president and assistant general counsel, will become vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary following Mr. Nichols' retirement.

Sysco's President and Chief Executive Officer Bill DeLaney stated, "We appreciate Mike's contributions to Sysco's success over the course of his career and we are very pleased to begin working with Russell in his new role."

Mr. Nichols said, "I greatly appreciate the significant opportunities which Sysco offered me. As I transition into my new life, I leave Sysco with the firm belief that our talented employees will hold fast to our history of integrity, good judgment and solution-oriented, hard work."

During his tenure as a Sysco officer, Mr. Nichols has been responsible for a broad range of corporate activities including the corporate legal and human resources functions, mergers and acquisitions, government and community affairs, enterprise risk management, safety, crisis management, corporate governance and ethics compliance. He served as chief legal counsel to nine different board chairmen, chief executive officers and chief operating officers.

About Mr. Nichols

Michael C. Nichols, 58, began his Sysco career in 1981 as general counsel at the company's corporate office in Houston, a position he held through 1988.  In 1991 he rejoined Sysco as vice president of management development and human resources; in 1998 he became general counsel and assumed additional responsibilities as corporate secretary in 2002; in 2006 he was promoted to senior vice president, adding his current responsibilities for administration in 2009. Mr. Nichols was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a graduate of Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1974. He then earned his J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law in 1977. Mr. Nichols served two terms in the Georgia State House of Representatives from 1977 to 1981. In Houston, his volunteer efforts have included service as a board member and chairman of the Houston Food Bank, chairman of the City of Houston Civil Service Commission, and service as a trustee on the Houston Police Officers Pension Plan. He is active in a variety of other charitable civic and Jewish organizations. Mr. Nichols and his wife, Marcia, have four children and reside in Houston.