FP International Announces Management Changes
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Arthur Graham Assumes Chairman of the Board and CEO Role; Joe Nezwek is New President
Redwood City, Calif., January 23, 2008 - FP International, a leading manufacturer of innovative protective packaging products and packaging systems in the U.S. and abroad has announced the promotion of Joe Nezwek to president, along with Jim Taylor as COO and CFO as well as other executive appointments effective January 1, 2008. Arthur Graham will remain as chairman of the board and will assume the duties and responsibilities of CEO.
In making the announcement of these management promotions, FP International's Chairman of the Board Arthur Graham said, "Our company is very fortunate to have such a highly gifted and motivated group of executives. These changes reflect the conviction shared by our entire board to ensure our future as the leader in the packaging products and packaging systems industry, and our continued strategic and healthy growth as a company."
Chairman and CEO Graham, a native of Chicago, is well known for his innovative packaging products and manufacturing methods and holds several patents in these areas, including his patented technology for the development of expanded polystyrene loosefill in 1967. In 1941 he received from MIT a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and in 1942 a master's degree in aeronautical engineering. He served as an Air Transport Command pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the
war, he spent three years with Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, California, as an aeronautical engineer and engineering test pilot. In 1951, Graham received a MBA from Stanford University. During the 1950s and 1960s Graham was president of Safe-T-Pacific Company. In early 1967, with the development of the polystyrene loosefill technology innovation, Graham started the company now known as FP International.
JOE NEZWEK NAMED NEW PRESIDENT
Joe Nezwek, FP International's senior vice president of sales and marketing for the past four years, has been promoted to the president of the company.
Nezwek joined FP International in March 2004 and has been an instrumental force in solidifying the innovation-driven company's leadership position in the industry. Prior to joining the company, Nezwek held a variety of sales, marketing, engineering and general management roles in several business-to-business and business-to-consumer corporations including Schlumberger Limited, Nestle and most recently Avery Dennison Corporation.
His most recent assignment at Avery Dennison was as vice president and general manager of the graphics division. Nezwek received a bachelor's degree in structural engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the University of Virginia.
JIM TAYLOR ASSUMES ROLE OF NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Having served as FP International's chief financial officer for the past two years, Jim Taylor has been promoted to chief operating officer as well.
Taylor will have direct responsibility for domestic manufacturing and human resources as well as FP Europe and all international activities. Taylor came to FP International in September 2005 from Portola Packaging where he served as president and chief operating officer during his seven-year stint there.
Prior to 1998 Taylor held executive level positions at a number of firms including Seagate Technology, Conner Peripherals, Forma-Pack and Varian Associates. Taylor holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of California at Davis and an MBA from Oregon State University.
MICHAEL KAMINSKI PROMOTED TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Finally, Michael (Mike) Kaminski has been promoted to senior vice president of worldwide engineering at FP International, and will serve as the company's head of research and development and engineering.
Kaminski joined FP International in 2004 coming from Volex where he was director of engineering and new product development and also held other positions. During his career he has also held product development and engineering positions at Icontec and TYCO International. Kaminski has a master of science in technology management from Pepperdine University, an MBA from Golden Gate University and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, Villanova University.
ABOUT FP INTERNATIONAL
The Redwood City, California-based Corporation FP International manufactures innovative protective packaging products and packaging systems. The company's products include packaging-made-on-site (PMOS), bubble, air cushions, Kraft paper cushioning and ready-to-use products, polyethylene foam, loosefill made of 100% recycled polystyrene or cornstarch and Kraft/bubble mailers. The company also designs and installs custom dispensing/storage systems for air cushions and loosefill. In 1990, FP International was the first company to recycle post-consumer polystyrene foam packaging and use the recycled material to make new loosefill and in
2007 recycled 7.2 million pounds of expanded polystyrene in the United States.
Today, with over 60 percent of total sales derived from products introduced in the past seven years, FP International is known as the industry's most innovative company in developing new products and new equipment to manufacture packaging materials on-site. The company has U.S. manufacturing facilities in California, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky and Massachusetts. FP International has wholly owned subsidiaries in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and a sales operation in Australia. FP International is a privately held company with 525 employees worldwide and sales well in excess of $100 million (U.S.) in 2007.
For more information, visit www.fpintl.com, or call 800-866-9946 / 650-261-5300.
FP International Media Contact:
Dianne Newton-Shaw
Placemaking Group
Public Relations Counsel for FP International
510.496.2352
dnshaw@placemakinggroup.com
