Airgas Announces Planned Transition in Airgas Nor Pac
Edward A. Richards to Become Airgas Nor Pac President; Dan L. Tatro to Focus on Airgas Core Strategy Initiative
RADNOR, PA - July 27, 2009 - Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), today announced that Edward A. Richards will assume the role of Airgas Nor Pac president, reporting to Max Hooper, Airgas Western Division president, effective October 1, 2009. Dan L. Tatro, current Airgas Nor Pac president, will join the Airgas Core Strategy II team as director - CS2, effective October 1, 2009. Tatro will report to Barb Meyers, Airgas director of customer service.
Airgas Nor Pac, one of 12 regional companies that make up Airgas' distribution business, has about 800 employees working in more than 50 locations. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, Airgas Nor Pac serves customers in Oregon, Washington, northern Idaho, and Alaska, as well as customers in western Canada and in Sakhalin, Russia.
Richards joined Airgas in 2005 as an area operations manager for Airgas East and was promoted to vice president - operations for Airgas Nor Pac in 2007. In January, Richards accepted the position of area vice president for Airgas Nor Pac in Seattle. Prior to joining Airgas, he served BOC Gases for nearly 18 years in facility and operations management. Richards is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and served in the U.S. Coast Guard for eight years.
"Eddie's more than 20 years of operations and management experience in the industry, plus the leadership he has demonstrated during his time with Airgas Nor Pac, will help further our success in the Pacific Northwest," said Hooper, who oversees six Airgas regional companies. "Dan Tatro made significant contributions to Airgas Nor Pac throughout his time as president, and given his career emphasis on customer service, we know he will continue to serve us well in his key role developing our service culture with our important Core Strategy II initiative."
Before joining Airgas Nor Pac as its president in 2006, Tatro served as president of Airgas Intermountain, based in Denver, CO, for six years. Prior to that, he served nine years in the Northwest, including six years leading two of the original Airgas hub companies that were merged to create Airgas Nor Pac.
About Airgas, Inc.
Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also one of the largest U.S. distributors of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. More than 14,000 employees work in over 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.
Media Contact:
Jay Worley
(610) 902-6206
jay.worley@airgas.com
Investor Contact:
Barry Strzelec
(610) 902-6256
barry.strzelec@airgas.com
