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OWINGS MILLS, Md., June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED), a leading United States manufacturer and provider of clinically proven, portion-controlled weight-loss products and programs, announced today the appointment of Medifast Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael MacDonald, to the Direct Selling Association (DSA) Board of Directors. The DSA is a national trade association of leading companies that manufacture and distribute goods and services sold directly to consumers.
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"For many years, Medifast, through its Take Shape For Life direct selling division, has worked closely with the organization to uphold the high ethical standards which are the tenets of the DSA. I am pleased to have the opportunity to now contribute to the growth and development of this esteemed association," said Michael MacDonald, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Medifast, Inc.
MacDonald was elected to a three-year term at the DSA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to the Board and joins an elite group of executives in the direct selling industry who oversee the DSA's efforts.
"Mike MacDonald has a proven track record of leading successful businesses and we're excited to have him as part of our Board of Directors. We welcome his wealth of knowledge and deep business experience to help guide the efforts of the DSA," said Joseph Mariano, President, DSA.
Take Shape For Life, a division of Medifast, offers clients the Medifast 5&1 meal replacement program with the one-on-one support and mentoring of a personal health coach. Since his appointment as Medifast's Chairman of the Board in 2011, MacDonald has overseen the consistent growth of the division. Today, Take Shape For Life is comprised of more than 11,000 health coaches, who support thousands of clients across the United States.
MacDonald has served on Medifast's Board since 1998, and was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in February 2012. Prior to this role, MacDonald served as Executive Vice President at Office Max, Inc. where he led the Contract Division, a $3.6 billion business unit. MacDonald spent more than thirty years serving in a variety of senior corporate officer positions for Xerox Corporation, including Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operational Effectiveness, President of Marketing Operations and Global Accounts and President of Xerox North America. Among his most significant roles was leading the turnaround in North America from 2000 to 2004, as President of the North American Solutions Group, a $6.5 billion division of Xerox. MacDonald also has international experience in marketing, sales and operations with both Xerox and Office Max.
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About Medifast
Medifast (NYSE: MED) is the leading easy-to-use, clinically proven, portion-controlled weight-loss program. The company sells its products and programs via four unique distribution channels: 1) the web and national call centers, 2) the Take Shape For Life personal coaching division, 3) Medifast Weight Control Centers, and 4) a national network of physicians. Medifast was founded in 1980 and is located in Owings Mills, Maryland. For more information, log onto www.MedifastNow.com.
About Take Shape For Life
Take Shape for Life is the direct selling division of Medifast. Through Take Shape For Life, Clients can get a free personal Health Coach and mentor to guide them throughout the processes of weight loss, weight management, and the cultivation of lasting, healthy habits as defined by co-founder Dr. Wayne S. Andersen and the Habits of Health System. To learn more, log onto www.TSFL.com.
About the Direct Selling Association
DSA is the national trade association of the leading firms that manufacture and distribute goods and services sold directly to consumers. Among its more than 240 active and pending members are companies selling both via a party-plan method and in the traditional person-to-person style. In 2011, U.S. direct sales were more than $29.8 billion with nearly 16 million direct sellers nationwide. The vast majority are independent business people—micro-entrepreneurs—whose purpose is to sell the product/service of the company they voluntarily choose to represent. Approximately 90 percent of direct sellers operate their business part-time. For more information, visit www.directselling411.com.
SOURCE Medifast, Inc.
