Bernard J. Pitz to Join Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer

Bernard J. Pitz to Join Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc. as Chief Financial Officer
Feb. 17, 2005

Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc. (NYSE: SYD), a leading manufacturer of a broad range of value-added products for the professional dental market and the specialty markets of orthodontics, endodontics, implants and infection prevention, today announced that Bernard J. Pitz will join the Company effective March 1, 2005. After a transition period, Mr. Pitz will succeed Gregory D. Waller, who announced last November his intention to retire during 2005, as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Waller will remain with the Company through April 1, 2005 to assist with the transition to the new CFO, and will also remain as a consultant to Sybron for a period of at least one year.
Mr. Pitz, 44, joins Sybron from Universal Electronics Inc. (Nasdaq: UEIC), a leading wireless technology developer, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2003. In this position, Mr. Pitz helped lead UEI through a period of significant financial growth, while also overseeing the Company's Sarbanes-Oxley compliance efforts. Prior to UEI, Mr. Pitz served as Vice President of Finance for Corning Incorporated's worldwide frequency control operations. Mr. Pitz joined Corning Incorporated as a result of its acquisition of Oak Industries in 2000, where he served as Vice President of Finance, North America. From 1983 to 1998, Mr. Pitz held a variety of financial and operating positions at Motorola in the United States and China. Mr. Pitz holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelors of Science degree from Northern Illinois University.
"We are very pleased to welcome Bernie to the Company," said Floyd W. Pickrell, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Sybron Dental Specialties. "He has a wealth of experience managing the financial activities of manufacturing companies with global operations and an exceptional track record of helping to generate profitable growth. Bernie also has an excellent M&A background that will be valuable as we continue to utilize strategic acquisitions as a core element of our growth strategy."
Mr. Pitz commented, "I am very pleased to join Sybron at a time when the Company has excellent momentum. Over the past few years, the Company has strengthened its position in its core dental and orthodontic markets, while making strong inroads into newer markets such as endodontics and dental implants. Sybron has also made exceptional progress in improving its working capital management and strengthening its balance sheet, and these will remain top priorities for the Company. I look forward to working with the rest of the management team to help Sybron capitalize on the strong growth opportunities available and taking the Company to the next level."
Mr. Pickrell concluded, "We are very appreciative for the many years of outstanding service that Greg Waller provided to Sybron, and we wish him well in his retirement. We are pleased that he will remain involved with the Company in his role as a consultant."