HB Hillenbrand Ind

BATESVILLE, Ind., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HB) today announced the appointment of Earl DeCarli as Group Vice President, Care Continuum Services, for its Hill-Rom subsidiary, a leading worldwide manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for the health care industry. In this role, DeCarli will become a member of Hill-Rom's operating leadership team and report directly to Peter H. Soderberg, president and CEO of Hillenbrand Industries and of Hill- Rom. DeCarli will begin his new role with Hill-Rom on March 10, 2008. "I am extremely excited to bring someone with Earl's talent and expertise on board in this key role," said Soderberg. "He has a deep level of experience in the medical technology industry, as well as a great track record as an entrepreneur who has generated tremendous investor value in earlier stage companies. He has had line responsibilities for international businesses and has an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities inherent in global growth. He is a strategic thinker and will bring great value in shaping the development of our rental and capital service operations areas, and on our moveable medical equipment business." DeCarli comes to Hill-Rom from The Hygenic Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of products utilized in the rehabilitation, therapy and wellness markets. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of that company for the past three years. Before that time, he was a Group Vice President for Welch Allyn, Inc., where he had global responsibility for two businesses as well as regional management responsibility for Latin America and functional responsibility for Quality and Regulatory Affairs. In addition, DeCarli spent 11 years with Elekta AB, a medical technology company based in Stockholm, Sweden. During that time he held a variety of assignments in North America and abroad, including serving as Chief Operating Officer for Elekta, Inc. He also spent six years with Baxter Healthcare Corporation out of Deerfield, IL. He holds a BA in History from Virginia Military Institute, and is a former member of the Board of Trustees for Auburn Memorial Hospital in Auburn, NY. DeCarli will be relocating to the Batesville, Indiana area in the upcoming months. ABOUT HILL-ROM. Hill-Rom is a leading worldwide manufacturer and provider of medical technologies and related services for the health care industry, including patient support systems, non-invasive therapeutic products for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions, medical equipment rentals, and information technology solutions. Hill-Rom's comprehensive product and service offerings are used by health care providers across the health care continuum in hospitals, extended care facilities and home care settings to enhance the safety and quality of patient care. Hill-Rom ... enhancing outcomes for patients and their caregivers. http://www.hillenbrand.com/ DATASOURCE: Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Lauren Green-Caldwell, Director, Corporate Communications & Public Relations, +1-812-934-8692, ; Investor Relations, Blair A. (Andy) Rieth, Jr., Vice President, Investor Relations, Corporate Communications & Global Brand Development, +1-812-931-2199, , both of Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. Web site: http://www.hillenbrand.com/

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