Hain Celestial's finance chief to retire

MELVILLE, N.Y. — Hain Celestial announced that EVP and CFO Ira Lamel will retire from the company.

Lamel will remain with Hain Celestial until a successor is named and to ensure an orderly transition, according to the company, which has commenced a global search for Lamel's replacement. Lamel, 65, joined the company in 2001.

"Working with Ira has been an absolute pleasure. Ira has been a key member of our management team and a valuable adviser," Hain Celestial founder, president and CEO Irwin Simon said. "Ira's tireless contributions and commitment have been instrumental to the growth of the company. His accomplishments include building a first-rate finance team, working on numerous worldwide acquisitions, facilitating our bank financings and our dealings with the Wall Street investor community including analysts and investors — all actions that have positioned the company for sustainable long-term growth. Ira has been a strong ally for the company, for me, and the rest of the management team. We are all happy for Ira and his family and wish them well."