Exhibit 99.1
WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC.
14507 Frontier Road
P. O. Box 45308
Omaha, Nebraska 68145
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John J. Steele
- --------------------- Executive Vice President, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer
(402) 894-3036
WERNER ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES PLANNED
MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Omaha, Nebraska, February 18, 2011:
- ----------------------------------
Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN), one of the nation's
largest transportation and logistics companies, announced today that
the Board of Directors has approved several planned management changes
that will become effective following the Company's annual stockholder
meeting that is currently expected to be held on May 10, 2011.
Clarence L. (C.L.) Werner, 73, will step down from his role as
Chairman and will become Chairman Emeritus. Mr. C.L. Werner will
continue to serve on the Company's Board of Directors.
Gary L. Werner, 53, will become Chairman, moving from his current
role as Vice Chairman. Mr. Gary L. Werner intends to continue to serve
on the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Gary L. Werner has more than
30 years of experience with Werner Enterprises.
Gregory L. Werner, 51, will become Vice Chairman and will retain
his current leadership role as Chief Executive Officer, a position he
assumed in February 2007. Mr. Gregory L. Werner also intends to
continue to serve on the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Gregory L.
Werner has more than 30 years of experience with Werner Enterprises.
Derek J. Leathers, 41, will become President and Chief Operating
Officer. Mr. Leathers currently serves as the Company's Chief Operating
Officer and President of Werner Global Logistics. Mr. Leathers has more
than 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry
and 12 years of experience with Werner Enterprises in various executive
positions throughout the Company.
The breadth and depth of the entire Werner executive management
team enable C.L. Werner to reduce his role in the company he started in
1956 as a sole proprietor. C.L. was the Company's first driver and
built the Company from a one-man, one truck operation into a nearly $2
billion public company. C.L. Werner, who is the Company's largest
shareholder with over 30% ownership of the Company's outstanding shares,
will remain involved in managing the Company as a member of the
Company's Board of Directors.
"Gary, Greg, Derek and I have worked closely together in
successfully growing Werner Enterprises for many years. I am extremely
confident in their abilities and the abilities of our entire Werner
team. Our Company and management team is very well positioned with a
rock solid foundation, and they are prepared to take Werner Enterprises
to much higher levels and improved performance in the years to come. My
health is excellent, and I intend to stay involved as a member of the
Company's Board of Directors," said C.L. Werner.
Werner Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is a premier
transportation and logistics company, with coverage throughout North
America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. Werner
maintains its global headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska and maintains
offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Australia.
Werner is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United
States, with a diversified portfolio of transportation services that
includes dedicated; medium-to-long-haul, regional and local van;
expedited; temperature-controlled; and flatbed services. Werner's Value
Added Services portfolio includes freight management, truck brokerage,
intermodal, and international services. International services are
provided through Werner's domestic and global subsidiary companies and
include ocean, air and ground transportation; freight forwarding; and
customs brokerage.
Werner Enterprises, Inc.'s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global
Select MarketSM under the symbol "WERN". For further information about
Werner, visit the Company's website at www.werner.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking
statements are based on information presently available to the Company's
management and are current only as of the date made. Actual results
could also differ materially from those anticipated as a result of a
number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2009. For those reasons, undue reliance should not be placed on any
forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no duty or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement, although it may do so
from time to time as management believes is warranted or as may be
required by applicable securities law. Any such updates or revisions
may be made by filing reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, through the issuance of press releases or by other methods
of public disclosure.