TAMPA, Fla. - (Business Wire) Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMEX), today announced with sadness the loss of Board Member George A. Knutsson on July 1, 2009 at the age of 71. Mr. Knutsson served as a Board Member and as Chairman of the Audit Committee since June 2001. “The loss of George Knutsson will be felt throughout the Odyssey family. George was a trusted Board member and good friend who made significant contributions to our organization through the years. He was a true gentleman who always had a positive attitude and left a lasting impression on everyone he met,” said Greg Stemm, Odyssey Chief Executive Officer. “His caring ways, boundless energy, and great sense of humor will be missed, but he will continue to live on in our memories forever.”
The Board of Directors' Governance Committee will meet, in due course and in accordance with Board policies, to nominate a successor.
Mr. Knutsson was also the President and Chairman of Knutsson Realty, Inc. which specialized in commercial and investment properties in the Tampa Bay area. From 1995 to 2005, he owned and served as President and Chairman of American Boat Trailer Rental Company, Inc., a provider of boat trailer rentals in the southeast United States.
From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Knutsson was the founder and Chief Financial Officer of Pro-Tech Monitoring, which uses patented GP/cellular technology in the monitoring and tracking of felons worldwide. In 1978, he founded Dollar Rental Car of Florida and served as Chief Executive Officer until he sold the company in 1990. Mr. Knutsson also owned and operated Pirates Cove Marina in the Tampa Bay area from 1984 until 1995.
About Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NasdaqCM: OMEX) is engaged in the exploration of deep-ocean shipwrecks and uses innovative methods and state-of-the-art technology to conduct extensive search and archaeological recovery operations around the world. For details on the Company's activities and its commitment to the preservation of maritime heritage please visit www.shipwreck.net.
Odyssey Marine Exploration believes the information set forth in this Press Release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Certain factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are set forth in "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Tampa
Liz Shows, 813-876-1776 ext. 2335
lshows@shipwreck.net
