Management

He is the voice of the company to our Distributors, sets the vision and strategy, and ensures that the company has the resources necessary to meet its goals.


Michael O. Johnson has a track record of success as a leader. Named chief executive officer of Herbalife in 2003 and chairman in 2007, he sets the vision and strategy, and is the voice of the company to approximately 2.1 million Independent Distributors in 75 countries. He oversees all aspects of the company's global operations, ensures the company has the resources necessary to meet its goals and pursues profitability and growth to increase shareholder value.

Under his direction, the company had five years of double-digit sales growth and has doubled – from net sales of $1.1 billion in 2003 to $2.7 billion in 2010 – as well as building a global brand through its sponsorship of more than 100 teams, athletes and fitness events around the world, including the LA Galaxy, FC Barcelona, the LA Triathlon, Amgen Tour of California and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).

Michael has strengthened Herbalife's product development and manufacturing through the creation of Nutrition Advisory Board, the continued funding of the Mark Hughes Cellular and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory at UCLA, research and clinical studies at other leading universities, the development of the Herbalife Product and Science Center in Los Angeles and the Herbalife Innovation & Manufacturing facility in Lake Forest, California, and the creation of the Herbalife Nutrition Institute.

Michael is also chairman of the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF), which is funded through donations from Herbalife, its Independent Distributors, employees, families and friends. In 2005, HFF launched its worldwide Casa Herbalife program to help bring good nutrition to needy children. Its first US-based site was at A Place Called Home and there are now more than 60 Casa Herbalife programs on six continents.

Outside the boardroom, Michael is a fitness enthusiast and has been participating in triathlons and cycling races for more than 20 years. He has encouraged Herbalife employees and Independent Distributors to join with him in participating in triathlons, marathons, cycling and fitness events around the world. Prior to Herbalife, Michael spent 17 years with The Walt Disney Company, serving as president of Disney International prior to joining Herbalife.

As general counsel for Herbalife, Brett Chapman has responsibility for all legal matters relating to our business around the world.


As general counsel and corporate secretary of Herbalife, Brett Chapman has responsibility for all legal, regulatory and government affairs matters relating to the company's business around the world.

Chapman's expertise in corporate and international law was refined during 13 years at The Walt Disney Company. He served most recently as senior vice president and deputy general counsel for Disney, with responsibility for all legal matters relating to Disney's Media Networks Group, including the ABC Television Network, the company's cable properties including The Disney Channel and ESPN, and Disney's radio and internet businesses.

Previously, Chapman was senior vice president and general counsel of Walt Disney International and senior vice president and assistant general counsel of The Walt Disney Company where he had overall responsibility for all of the company's legal affairs outside of the US. Earlier he served as senior vice president of worldwide business and legal affairs for Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment division, and senior counsel in its corporate legal department where he was involved in various acquisitions including that of Miramax Films and the Miyazaki film library.

Prior to joining Disney, Chapman was with the Los Angeles office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, a multi-disciplinary law firm with offices worldwide, and the London office of Linklaters, a leading international law firm.

Chapman sits on the board of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, the Direct Selling Association, and the Herbalife Family Foundation.

Des Walsh is responsible for the growth of our business by working closely with distributors to achieve greater access to and deeper penetration of Herbalife products throughout the world.


Des Walsh is responsible for the growth of our business by working closely with Distributors to achieve greater access and deeper penetration of Herbalife® products throughout the world. Reporting to him are the managing directors of each of our six regions, and he has overall responsibility for Distributor-facing functions throughout the world, including marketing, promotions, sponsorships, business methods support, events, Distributor ethics and Distributor communications.

Walsh joined the company in 2004 as senior vice president, worldwide Distributor sales, where he was responsible for sales strategy, business development, corporate events, worldwide promotions and Distributor services. Later, he became executive vice president of worldwide operations and sales, and had overall responsibility for the company's business operations in all Herbalife markets around the world.

Walsh has extensive international business experience gained during his 20-year career in sales, marketing and executive management.

He joined Herbalife from DMX Music, where he was senior vice president of the commercial division and responsible for innovative sales programs and partnerships that led to growth in new U.S. markets. Prior to DMX, he was a vice president of Disney's Buena Vista Home Entertainment, where he played a key role in expanding the company's video business in the major markets of the world.

Walsh's previous experience includes key management positions at MovieQuik Systems, a division of The Southland Corporation (now 7 Eleven), and Commtron Corporation, a leading consumer electronics and video distribution company.

As chief operating officer, Rich Goudis is responsible for building and sustaining an infrastructure that allows the company to achieve its growth goals.


As chief operating officer, Goudis is responsible for building and sustaining an infrastructure that allows the company to achieve its growth goals. His functional responsibility includes worldwide operations, human resources, and information technology, along with the back office functions in all the regions.

Since he joined the company in 2004, Goudis served as chief financial officer, where he played a critical role in the company's initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as well as in the restructuring of the company's debt structure, which led to three rating upgrades. He oversaw the worldwide implementation of Oracle modules for supply chain, distributor management and general ledger, and led the successful Sarbanes-Oxley 404 attestation process from 2004 thru 2007.

Goudis has more than 25 years of financial management experience with industry leading companies such as Pratt & Whitney and Sunbeam Corporation and senior executive experience as vice president finance and chief operating officer of Rexall Sundown. While at Rexall Sundown, Goudis was a member of the executive team that led the company through tremendous sales growth, including the expansion of Rexall Showcase International throughout Asia, while improving overall profitability, and ultimately the sale of the company to Royal Numico.

John DeSimone has global responsibility for all financial, accounting, strategic planning, and investor relations for the company's business operations around the world.


As chief financial officer of Herbalife, John DeSimone has global responsibility for all financial, accounting, strategic planning, and investor relations for the company's business operations around the world.

Having joined Herbalife in November 2007, DeSimone first served as SVP, finance, and since 2008, distributor operations as well. His accomplishments include leading the company's acquisition of its first U.S. manufacturing facility, spearheading new country openings, and overseeing strategic planning, forecasting and budgeting.

DeSimone has over 17 of experience in the corporate finance sector. He served as the controller, vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Rexall Sundown, Inc., a multinational manufacturer and distributor of nutritional supplements and sports nutrition products that was publicly traded while DeSimone served as its controller and vice president. He gained earlier financial experience at Precision Response Corporation and Sunbeam Corporation. Prior to joining Herbalife, he was chief executive officer and an investor of Mobile Ventures, LLC, an automotive aftermarket accessory distributor and retailer.