Henkel Appoints Jim Wise to Lead Global Sales Efforts for Electronics Assembly Business


Irvine, California, May 20, 2009

In a move designed to further expand the company's market and sales leadership, Henkel Corporation has selected Mr. Jim Wise to direct the global sales effort for its electronics assembly business.

With over 23 years of chemical industry experience, the last 20 of which have been spent with Henkel businesses, Wise brings unique perspective and expertise to his new role. Providing a rare combination of both scientific understanding and management skill, Wise's background includes positions in chemistry R&D, technical service, applications, manufacturing, sales and new business development. Wise formerly held top-level positions with Nacan, Acheson and Emerson & Cuming and was an asset gained through Henkel's acquisition of National Starch and Chemical's Adhesives and Electronics Materials business.

As manager of the global sales effort, Wise has several business development priorities, the first of which is to address current and emerging customer requirements, delivering robust, yet cost-effective materials solutions that enable competitiveness for today's and tomorrow's assembly technologies. In addition, effectively communicating the breadth of the organization to customers is top on Wise's list, as Henkel now successfully delivers materials solutions and an unmatched depth of knowledge for numerous product classes that include solder materials, conductive adhesives, circuit board protection materials, inks and coatings, underfills and thermally conductive materials, just to name a few.

While the product range is arguably impressive, it's the company's innovation, technology-enabling capabilities and low-risk partnership proposition that truly set Henkel apart competitively. "We bring expertise and advanced materials to the table that enable our customers to develop products or technologies that would not otherwise be achievable, making Henkel a key supplier and partner," explains Wise. "Henkel offers more, as we don't simply just supply a product, but a product backed by a highly skilled technical staff, a robust supply chain, top-notch customer support and know-how that allows our customers to create differentiable products or technologies and bring them to market faster. That's what Henkel's innovation commitment is all about and it's a promise that we are delivering on consistently."

Customer focus and product innovation are at the core of Henkel's business strategy and key to successfully meeting the company's corporate goals. Wise is tasked with ensuring that his entire global sales team executes on these objectives every day in every region.

"Managing such a broad product offering and large global sales team is no easy task," says Joseph DeBiase, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Henkel's Adhesives Electronics Assembly business. "Jim's vast knowledge base, combined with his sheer enthusiasm, energy and passion for his work, make him the ideal candidate to lead our sales organization. I have every confidence in his ability to guide our team and grow our business."

A native of Canada, Wise is a graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario, Canada, where he received a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry, minored in Physics and Mathematics and graduated with honors. As leader of Henkel's global sales initiatives, Wise will be based in the company's Billerica, Massachusetts facility and will report to Henkel's electronics assembly group Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Joseph DeBiase.

About Henkel

For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better and more beautiful. Henkel operates in three business areas - Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesive Technologies - and is ranked among the Fortune Global 500 companies. More than 60 percent of Henkel's sales are in fast-moving consumer goods, while the industrial business accounts for almost 40 percent of the company's total sales. In fiscal 2008, Henkel generated sales of 14,131 million euros and adjusted operating profit of 1,460 million euros. Our more than 55,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust in brands and technologies from Henkel.

Contact

Henkel Corporation
Doug Dixon
Phone: 949-789-2500
Fax: 949-785-2595
doug.dixon@us.henkel.com
www.henkel.com/electronics

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