FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, DC—March 23, 2005) Ronald L. Zarrella, chairman and CEO of Bausch & Lomb, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). The elections were held March 11 during the Foundation’s board meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

“Ron Zarrella’s experience and talents in the corporate community are a welcome addition to the NIAF leadership,” NIAF Chairman Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli said. Mr. Zarella was honored with the 1999 NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business at the Foundation’s 24th Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Zarrella was named chairman and CEO of Bausch & Lomb in November 2001. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Zarrella held senior management posts at General Motors Corporation most recently as executive vice president and president of General Motors North America in Detroit.

He was previously with Bausch & Lomb from 1985 through 1994 holding several executive positions including president of the former International Division and president, chief operating officer, and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Before joining Bausch & Lomb in 1985 he held various executive positions with Bristol Myers Company and Esmark Corporation.

Mr. Zarrella is a member of the boards of Avaya Inc., the Committee for Economic Development, the University of Rochester Medical Center, U.S. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Rochester Institute of Technology, and is a member of the Rochester Business Alliance Executive Committee.

Born in Waterbury, Conn., Mr. Zarrella received a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., and attended New York University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Others elected to the NIAF board of directors are: Lucio Caputo, president of the International Trade Center of New York; Hon. Charles Gargano, chairman of Empire State Development Corp. and vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Joseph Moglia, CEO of Ameritrade Holding Corporation; and Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and CEO of The Willis Group.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation dedicated to promoting the contributions of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org