K-C Fills President Slot, Enters Agreement.

Kimberly-Clark, Dallas, TX, has named Thomas Falk president and COO after holding the position empty for the past seven years. Mr. Falk has been with the company since 1983 and most recently served as group president-global tissue and paper. He will report to K-C's chairman and CEO Wayne Sanders, who had given up the post of president in 1992 and title of COO in 1991.

In other news, K-C and Novation, Dallas, TX--a healthcare group purchasing organization--have entered a multi-year agreement that includes sterilization wrap surgical drapes and gowns and infection control products. According to terms of the agreement--which runs from December 1999 to November 2002-Novation will purchase more than $600 million in products. Earlier this year, K-C and Novation announced a separate agreement for disposable blood pressure cuffs, which are expected to generate more than $7 million in sales for K-C. Novation currently has an agreement with Ballard Medical Products. The K-C/Novation agreement and the contract between Novation and Ballard represent more than $46 million in estimated sales.