Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) today announced that Vasilios H. Frankos, M.S., Ph.D., will retire from the FDA in March and join the company as senior vice president, product compliance and safety, effective April 2010. Frankos is currently the director, division of dietary supplements programs, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), at the Food and Drug Administration. He will report to the company's General Counsel Brett Chapman.
Frankos, one of the country's foremost authorities on dietary supplements, has more than two decades experience in creating policies and standards for safe and effective dietary supplements and ingredients, and led efforts in developing good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) and Serious Adverse Events Reporting.

"Bill Frankos exemplifies Herbalife's commitment to providing science-based nutritional supplements of the highest quality available in the marketplace," said Michael O. Johnson, Herbalife chairman and CEO.
In his most recent position at FDA, Frankos served as director, division of dietary supplements programs, CFSAN, directing and coordinating policy, budget, personnel and administrative activities. He advised on policy and management issues on dietary supplement programs, new dietary ingredient safety assessments and related activities pertaining to dietary supplements.

Before joining the FDA, Frankos was a principal with ENVIRON for over 18 years, providing consultation on FDA and EPA product registration and the toxicological and pharmacological evaluation of data used to assess the risks posed by foods and food additives, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, pesticides, and environmental and occupational exposures.

Picture: Herbalife Headquarter in L.A.