WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 31, 2013 - Larry Peiros, a longtime Clorox Company executive who played a leadership role for 15 years at the American Cleaning Institute, is the recipient of ACI's 2013 Distinguished Service Award.

The honor was presented at ACI's 2013 Annual Meeting & Industry Convention held at the Grande Lakes Orlando (Florida).

Peiros is the retiring Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at The Clorox Company. He joined Clorox in 1980 as a summer intern, was appointed a member of the company's executive committee in 1999 and elevated to the COO role in 2007.

Most recently, he had overall responsibility for all of the company's businesses, and oversaw the Marketing, Sales, Research & Development and Product Supply functions, as well as Clorox's Eco Office, which is responsible for implementing the company's global environmental sustainability strategy. He is retiring on April 1, 2013.

Peiros was active in the work of ACI for over 15 years. He served on ACI's Board of Directors for 12 years, as chair of the Finance Committee and Treasurer from 2008-2009, contributing to ACI's strong financial position. He further provided leadership, serving on the Board's Executive Committee from 2008-2010.

"Larry Peiros has been a tremendous asset to ACI and to the cleaning products industry at-large," said Ernie Rosenberg, ACI President & CEO. "Those of us on the staff who have worked with him directly have deep respect and affection.

"A mere recitation of the positions he's held does not capture how much of a contribution he has made and how important his leadership has been to the development of the Institute and its staff. I am personally deeply grateful that I had the opportunity to work with and learn from Larry," Rosenberg added.

"For decades, ACI has been at the forefront of promoting the benefits of cleaning products and protecting the ability of its members to formulate products that best meet consumer needs" said Larry Peiros. "It has been exciting and personally fulfilling to be a part of this effort, working with respected leaders from other member companies as well as a group of extremely capable professionals that make up the ACI staff."

ACI's Distinguished Service Award is named in honor of the late Elva Walker Spillane, the former National Purity LLC chief executive who served on the association's Board for 20 years.

The award honors an individual for extensive or exceptional service to ACI, who promoted the growth and interests of the Institute and the industries it represents; and who exercised outstanding leadership within the Institute.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI - formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. ACI members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

Contact
Brian Sansoni, 202-662-2517 (office), 202-680-9327 (mobile), bsansoni@cleaninginstitute.org

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