Message from the Chairman and CEO
"I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance," said John D. Rockefeller, the legendary business leader and equally renowned philanthropist. "It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
Perseverance was certainly a necessity for anyone in business during 2008. At a time when individuals, governments and even entire nations were struggling, Office Depot continued to persevere while focusing on our vision and our values. With these principles as our guide, we did all we could to weather the storms, to maintain hope and to remain focused on our goals.
It is our belief that corporate citizenship should continue to be important in challenging times. While we're not perfect, our Board of Directors, our management team and our associates around the world are committed to meeting the critical needs of the people and the environment around us.
We are proud of our accomplishments last year. To cite just a few, our Supply Chain Diversity Program remained second-to-none. The Office Depot Foundation continued to grow - not only in stature but also in the impact it makes. Our environmental sustainability initiatives kept us in the forefront of our industry. And there were numerous other reasons for us to look to the year ahead with optimism.
To everyone who has played - and continues to play - a role in Office Depot's robust corporate citizenship endeavors, I offer my gratitude and appreciation.
Sincerely,
Steve Odland
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer