Wow, this sounds like a really poor choice that is likely to lead to a negative response, but ULTA has picked the head of USM as its new CEO (Mary Dillon). Thumbs down! She hasn't done a good job there at all. I guess they like her marketing background.
Mary N. Dillon has been a director of U.S. Cellular since appointment as President and Chief
Executive Officer of U.S. Cellular effective June 1, 2010. She was appointed as a director pursuant to the
terms of a letter agreement dated May 3, 2010 between U.S. Cellular and Ms. Dillon relating to her
employment with U.S. Cellular. The following provides information on the background of Ms. Dillon, including
the specific factors that led to the conclusion that she should serve as a director of U.S. Cellular.
Ms. Dillon has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Cellular (an executive officer of
U.S. Cellular and deemed to be an executive officer of TDS under SEC rules) since June 1, 2010.
Prior to her appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Cellular, Ms. Dillon served
as the executive vice president and global chief marketing officer of McDonald's Corporation, a global
restaurant company (NYSE: MCD). Ms. Dillon had been employed by McDonald's Corporation in such capacity
since October 2005. In such capacity, she led the company's worldwide marketing efforts and global brand
strategy for 32,000 restaurants in 118 countries with $23 billion in revenues.
Prior to joining McDonald's, Ms. Dillon had been employed by PepsiCo Corporation, a global beverage
company (NYSE: PEP), between 2000 and 2005, most recently as president of its Quaker Foods Division from 2004 to 2005.
Ms. Dillon served as vice president of marketing of Gardenburger, Inc. which, at the time was a
publicly-traded food company (formerly NASDAQ: GBUR), between 1996 and 2000.
Prior to that, Ms. Dillon had been employed by Quaker Oats Company (formerly NYSE: OAT), an
international marketer of grain-based foods and beverages, between 1984 and 1996. While at Quaker Oats,
Ms. Dillon held several positions of increasing responsibility across several food and beverage categories.
Ms. Dillon is, and has been since 2007, a director of Target Corporation, which operates general
merchandise and food discount stores in the United States (NYSE: TGT). She is a member of its
compensation committee and corporate social responsibility committee.
Ms. Dillon is also a director of NorthShore University HealthSystem, a private integrated healthcare
delivery system that serves northern Illinois communities, and of Loyola Academy, a college preparatory
high school.
Ms. Dillon has a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and Asian studies from the University of
Illinois at Chicago.