UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC
20549
___________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 11, 2008
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 1-644-2 | 13-1815595 |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction | (Commission | (IRS Employer |
| of Incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
| 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY | 10022 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (212) 310-2000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
| Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Colgate-Palmolive Company today announced that, consistent with previously announced succession plans, Mr. Reuben Mark will retire as Chairman of the Board and a director of Colgate-Palmolive Company effective December 31, 2008, and that the Board of Directors has elected Mr. Ian M. Cook, currently Chief Executive Officer and President and a member of the Board of Directors, to the additional role of Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2009.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed with this document:
| Exhibit Number | Description |
| 99 | Press release, dated December 11, 2008, issued by Colgate-Palmolive Company |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: December 11, 2008 | COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY | ||
| By: /s Andrew D. Hendry | |||
| Name: | Andrew D. Hendry | ||
| Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel | ||
| and Secretary | |||
2
Exhibit 99
Bina Thompson 212-310-3072
Hope Spiller 212-310-2291
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colgate Elects Ian M. Cook As Board Chairman
Reuben Mark To Retire As Planned
New York, New York, December 11, 2008… Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) today announced that, consistent with previously announced succession plans, Mr. Reuben Mark will retire as Chairman of the Board and a director of Colgate-Palmolive Company effective December 31, 2008, and that the Board of Directors has unanimously elected Mr. Ian M. Cook, currently Chief Executive Officer and President and a member of the Board of Directors, to the additional role of Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2009.
Mr. Cook, speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors said, “We are extremely grateful for Reuben’s outstanding leadership of Colgate’s Board as its Chairman for more than 22 years. He was deeply committed to a strong tradition of Board strategic oversight and corporate governance excellence, which we look forward to continuing.”
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About Colgate-Palmolive: Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate’s global business, visit the Company's web site at http://www.colgate.com.