Dean Foods / About Us

Our Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing and interacting with senior management with respect to key aspects of our business, including strategic planning, management development and succession, operating performance, compliance and shareholder returns. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to select and evaluate a well-qualified Chief Executive Officer of high integrity, and to approve the appointment of other members of the senior management team. The Board of Directors provides general advice and counsel to our Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives.

The Board of Directors has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Principles for our company, including certain director qualification and training standards (see "Corporate Governance Principles").

The Board of Directors meets according to a set schedule, and also holds special meetings and acts by written consent from time to time as appropriate.

The independent members of our Board of Directors regularly hold meetings in "executive session." The independent directors have selected Mr. Hardin to serve as Presiding Director during such executive sessions.

All directors are expected to avoid conflicts of interest and to represent the best interests of our shareholders in maintaining and enhancing the success of our business. The Board will conduct a self-evaluation at least annually to ensure that it is functioning effectively.

Gregg L. Engles
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Dean Foods Company

Engles was elected to the Board of Directors in October 1994. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer from October 1994 to December 2001. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board from December 2001 to April 2002, when he resumed the Chairman's role upon Howard Dean's retirement. Prior to the formation of our company, Engles served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of certain predecessor companies.

Alan J. Bernon
Former President
Dairy Group
Dean Foods Company

Bernon was elected to the Board of Directors in August 1997 in connection with Suiza Foods' acquisition of Garelick Farms. He currently serves as President of Dean Dairy Group. Bernon formerly was Chief Operating Officer of the Northeast Region of Dean Dairy Group from 1997 through 2005. From September 1985 until July 1997, he served as President of the Garelick Companies.

Lewis M. Collens
Professor of Law
President Emeritus
Illinois Institute of Technology

Collens was elected to the Board of Directors in December 2001 in connection with our acquisition of the former Dean Foods Company. He served on the Board of the "old" Dean Foods from 1991-2001. Collens is President of Illinois Institute of Technology and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IIT Research Institute and has served in such capacity since 1990. Collens was Dean of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law from 1974 to 1980 and has been a director of AMSTED Industries (a manufacturer of components for the railroad and construction industries) since 1991.

Tom C. Davis
Managing Partner
Gryphon Special Situations Fund L.P.

Davis was elected to the Board of Directors in March 2001. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of The Concorde Group, a private investment firm, since March 2001. Davis was the managing partner and head of banking and corporate finance for the Southwest division of Credit Suisse First Boston (formerly DLJ) from March 1984 to February 2001.

Stephen L. Green
General Partner
Canaan Capital Partners, L.P.

Green was elected to the Board of Directors in October 1994. He has served as a general partner of Canaan Capital Partners, L.P., the general partner of Canaan Capital Limited Partnership and Canaan Capital Offshore Limited Partnership, C.V., former principal stockholders of our company, since November 1991. From October 1985 until November 1991, Green served as Managing Director of GE Capital's Corporate Finance Group.

Joseph S. Hardin, Jr.
Retired
Former Chief Executive Officer
Kinko's, Inc.

Hardin was elected to the Board of Directors in May 1998 and serves as our Lead Director. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Kinko's, Inc. from May 1997 until his retirement in January 2001. From 1986 to April 1997, Hardin held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., ultimately as an Executive Vice President and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of SAM's Club, the wholesale division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Janet Hill
Vice President
Alexander & Associates

Hill was elected to the Board of Directors in December 2001 in connection with our acquisition of the former Dean Foods Company. She served on the Board of the "old" Dean Foods from 1997 to December 2001. She is Vice President of Alexander & Associates (a corporate consulting firm) and has served in such capacity since 1981.

Ronald Kirk
Partner
Vinson & Elkins

Kirk was elected to the Board of Directors in February 2003. He was the Mayor of Dallas from 1995-2001, and former Texas Secretary of State (1994). He is a Partner at Vinson and Elkins LLP, and also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Brinker International and Petsmart, Inc. In addition, Kirk has more than 20 years experience as legislative counsel for numerous public and private entities. He previously served on the legislative staff of U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen and is a former Assistant City Attorney for Governmental Relations for the City of Dallas.

John R. Muse
Chairman
HM Capital Partners LLC

Muse was elected to the Board of Directors in November 1997. Prior to the formation of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst in 1989, he headed the investment/merchant banking activities of Prudential Securities for the southwest region of the United States from 1984 to 1989. Muse was a member of the Board of Directors of The Morningstar Group Inc. prior to our acquisition of that company in November 1997.

Hector M. Nevares
Managing Partnern
Suiza Realty SE

Nevares was elected to the Board of Directors in 1994. He was President of Suiza Dairy (Puerto Rico) from June 1983 until September 1996, having served in additional executive capacities at Suiza Dairy (Puerto Rico) since June 1974. He served as a consultant for Suiza Foods from March 1998 until April 2000.

Pete Schenkel
Former Vice Chairman
Dean Foods Company

Schenkel was elected to the Board of Directors in January 2000 and became Vice Chairman in January 2006. He previously served as President of Dean Dairy Group. Schenkel joined our company in January 2000 in connection with our acquisition of Southern Foods Group. From 1959 to December 31, 1999, Schenkel served in various capacities at Southern Foods Group (now part of Dean Dairy Group), including Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer from 1994 through 1999, and President from 1987 to 1994.

Jim L. Turner
Principal
JLT Beverages

Turner was elected to the Board of Directors in November 1997. He currently serves as Principal of JLT Beverages. Prior to this role, he served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dr Pepper Bottling Holdings, Inc. and Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Texas since 1985. Turner was a member of the Board of Directors of The Morningstar Group Inc., prior to our acquisition of that company in November 1997.