8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 10, 2011

HILLENBRAND, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Indiana	1-33794	26-1342272
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

One Batesville Boulevard Batesville, Indiana	47006
(Address of Principal Executive Office)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (812) 934-7500

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 10, 2011, Hillenbrand, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Helen W. Cornell to its Board of Directors.  Ms. Cornell will serve an initial term that will expire at the Company’s 2012 annual meeting of shareholders, at which time it is expected that she will be nominated for a full three-year term.  It has not yet been determined on which committees she will serve.

The Company’s press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Cornell is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

Ms. Cornell will be entitled to receive compensation for her service on the Board of Directors consistent with the Company’s compensation program for non-employee directors, as described under the heading “Compensation of Directors” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 6, 2011.  That description is incorporated in this Current Report by reference.

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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated August 16, 2011, of Hillenbrand, Inc.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	HILLENBRAND, INC.
DATE: August 16, 2011
	BY:	/S/ Cynthia L. Lucchese
	Cynthia L. Lucchese
	Senior Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer
DATE: August 16 2011
	BY:	/S/ John R. Zerkle
	John R. Zerkle
	Senior Vice President,
	General Counsel & Secretary

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated August 16, 2011, of Hillenbrand, Inc.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACT

Shari Morey, Communications Manager
Phone: 812-931-5035
E-mail: shari.morey@hillenbrand.com

Helen Cornell Appointed to Hillenbrand Board

BATESVILLE, Indiana, August 16, 2011 — /PR NewsWire/ — The board of directors of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), has appointed Helen W. Cornell to a newly created board seat, effective immediately.

“Helen is a wonderful addition to our board,” said Ray J. Hillenbrand, chairman of the Hillenbrand board of directors. “We look forward to benefitting from her deep talent and experience in finance, operations and growth through acquisitions. Helen’s background also provides her with strong insight into our process equipment business platform, which will be invaluable as we continue to transform Hillenbrand into a global diversified industrial company.”

In November 2010, Cornell retired as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Gardner Denver, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of compressors, blowers, pumps, loading arms and fuel systems for various industrial, medical, environmental, transportation and process applications. She served in various operating and financial roles of increasing responsibility at Gardner Denver during her 22-year tenure at the company, including a term as vice president and general manager of the Fluid Transfer Division and as vice president of strategic planning.

Active in the business community, Cornell chairs the Audit Committee for two boards: The Alamo Group, where she is also a member of the Compensation Committee, and the privately owned Owensboro Grain Company, where she is also a member of the Executive Committee. In Quincy, Ill., where she resides, Cornell has experience on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations.

“Hillenbrand has a strong, sustainable growth strategy, supported by a culture that values quality, service and prudent cash management,” said Cornell. “The company is poised for growth on a global scale, and I’m excited to be part of this effort to build additional value for shareholders.”

A certified public accountant (CPA) and certified management accountant (CMA), Cornell has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in business administration from Vanderbilt University.

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About Hillenbrand, Inc.

Hillenbrand (www.HillenbrandInc.com) is a diversified enterprise with multiple subsidiaries focused around two business platforms. Batesville Casket (www.batesville.com) is a leader in the North American death care industry through the sale of funeral services products, including burial caskets, cremation caskets, containers and urns, burial vaults, selection room display fixturing, and other personalization and memorialization products. The Process Equipment Group is a recognized leader in the design, production, marketing and servicing of equipment and systems used in processing applications for a diverse range of industrial markets. Its two business lines are K-Tron, which focuses primarily on feeding and pneumatic conveying equipment, and the Size Reduction Group, which concentrates on size reduction equipment, conveying systems and screening equipment, operating under three brands: Pennsylvania Crusher, Gundlach and Jeffrey Rader. HI-INC-E

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