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Seventh Generation Fires 'Chief Inspired Protagonist' Hollender

<p>In an email from Jeffrey Hollender to friends and supporters, the founder and former CEO of the green cleaning and consumer goods company announced that he had been terminated without cause by the company's board of directors.</p>

Jeffrey Hollender today announced that he had been let go from Seventh Generation, the company he founded over 20 years ago, by the company's board of directors.

According to an email Hollender sent to friends and supporters, which was provided to GreenBiz.com, the founder and former CEO of the green cleaning and consumer goods company said the board had "decided to end the company's employment relationship ... without cause."

In 2009, Hollender stepped down as CEO of the company, to be replaced by former Quaker Oats CEO Chuck Maniscalco. Hollender's move was intended to help to the company expand into larger markets as the demand for green cleaning has boomed in recent years.

Here are the relevant passages from Hollender's email announcement:

On Monday, October 25th, the Seventh Generation Board announced to its shareholders and employees that they have "decided to end the company's employment relationship" with me ". . .without cause". Though I cannot discuss the unpleasant circumstances that led to this, I wanted you to hear this news directly from me.
Over the past twenty years, I have had the privilege to work with an extraordinary group of committed, talented people -- and I thank them all and wish them the best. I plan to remain fully engaged in the work of creating a new paradigm for justice, equity and corporate responsibility through my new book, Planet Home that will be published by Random House in January 2011; my work on the boards of Greenpeace and Veritee; and in my role as the co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council.

We have asked Seventh Generation for comment and will follow up as details warrant.

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