Lubrizol Announces Changes in Management to Support Continued Growth
CLEVELAND, OH, October 6, 2008 - The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE:LZ) announced management changes designed to better support the company's business objectives that include driving organic growth, strengthening the product portfolio and improving profitability. The newly appointed leadership will focus on enhancing product innovations across the enterprise, improving operating efficiencies across the global manufacturing and supply chain structure, managing enterprise risk and executing key bolt-on acquisitions that are complementary to existing product lines. The promotions took effect on September 26.
James L. Hambrick, Lubrizol's chairman, president, chief executive officer said, "In order to execute our strategy and continue to grow, especially in this challenging business environment, it is essential that we have the correct structure and people in the right roles. These management changes will provide us the strong leadership required to achieve our goals."
Corporate Officers
Steve Kirk was elevated to senior vice president and chief operating officer, in charge of both Lubrizol Additives (LZA) and Lubrizol Advanced Materials (LZAM) business segments.
Kirk was elected senior vice president of The Lubrizol Corporation and appointed president of Lubrizol Additives in April 2004. He joined Lubrizol in 1972 and served in a variety of roles in process engineering, sales, and sales management in several company facilities, including European headquarters in London, England. Kirk was elected vice president of the corporation in December 1993 and served in several marketing and sales roles before being named president of Lubrizol Additives in 2004.
Kirk earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in chemical engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business from Cleveland State University in 2007.
Larry Norwood was promoted to corporate vice president, operations, leading operations personnel and infrastructure for both LZA and LZAM. Most recently Norwood served as vice president, operations for the Lubrizol Additives segment. He joined Lubrizol in 1973 and held a variety of positions in process engineering, production and technology and plant management at the Deer Park and Bayport, Texas facilities as well as the Painesville and Wickliffe, Ohio facilities.
Norwood earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Lamar University.
Bob Graf was promoted to corporate vice president, research and development, leading research strategy and the development of scientific resources for both LZA and LZAM. Previously Graf was vice president, research and development for Lubrizol Additives. He joined Lubrizol in 1985 and held a variety of technical management roles across the company including a two-year assignment with GE-Lubrizol, a joint venture start-up of GE Transportation Systems and Lubrizol.
Graf earned his Bachelor of Science degree in polymer science from the Pennsylvania State University and his doctorate and Master of Science degrees in macromolecular science and engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
Greg Lewis was promoted to corporate vice president, global risk management and chief ethics officer, with oversight of loss prevention activities; the health, safety, environment and security function; and corporate ethics for the company.
Since June 2004, Lewis was vice president and general counsel of Lubrizol Advanced Materials and deputy general counsel of the corporation since June 2007. Previously, Lewis was vice president of Asia Pacific, based in Singapore, from January 2003 to June 2004, assistant secretary of the corporation from April 2001 to January 2003 and assistant to the general counsel from October 1997 to January 2003. Lewis joined Lubrizol in 1984 as a process development engineer.
Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University and a law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.
Dan Sheets was promoted to corporate vice president and president, Lubrizol Additives. Since 2005 Sheets has served as vice president of sales for Lubrizol Additives. Prior to 2005, he was vice president, Engine Additives and also served as global business manager for Fuels, Refinery and Oilfield. Sheets also held a variety of sales, sales management, business and general management roles, including involvement in several acquisitions, which led to a three-year assignment in Germany. Sheets joined Lubrizol in 1984 after spending five years at Diamond Shamrock Corporation in various field sales roles in the U.S.
In his new role, Sheets will be responsible for the day-to-day management and growth of the Lubrizol Additives segment which will continue to be structured around two major product lines, namely the Engine Additives line and the Driveline and Industrial Additives line.
Sheets earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Eric Schnur was promoted to corporate vice president and president, Lubrizol Advanced Materials. Since 2007 Schnur was vice president and general manager of Performance Coatings in LZAM. He was vice president, Driveline and Industrial Additives, in the LZA segment from 2004 to 2007. Prior to 2004, Schnur held a variety of roles in process development, technical and commercial management, and global business development for several product lines, including a two-year assignment in Singapore. Schnur joined Lubrizol in 1989 as a development engineer in research and development.
In his new role, Schnur will be responsible for the day-to-day management and growth of the Lubrizol Advanced Materials segment which will continue to be structured around three major product lines, namely Noveon® Consumer Specialties, Performance Coatings and Engineered Polymers.
Schnur earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University.
Don Bogus, senior vice president, The Lubrizol Corporation and president of Lubrizol Advanced Materials, will retire from Lubrizol effective January 2, 2009. Bogus began his career with Lubrizol in April of 2000 as vice president of the then Chemicals for Industry division with responsibility for Lubrizol's paints, coatings and inks additive businesses. In April 2004, following the announcement of Lubrizol's acquisition of Noveon, Bogus was named senior vice president for Lubrizol and president of Noveon, the position he has held since that time.
During his tenure with Lubrizol, Bogus played a key role in the company's M&A growth strategy and was instrumental in integrating the Noveon business into the current Lubrizol Advanced Materials business segment.
Lubrizol Additives
Mark Pringle has been named vice president, sales, Americas. Since 2004 Pringle was general manager, sales-North America. He joined Lubrizol in 1991 and has served in a variety of business development, field sales and global account management roles. Before joining Lubrizol, Pringle held field sales and sales management positions at Sunoco and Dryden Oil Company, now BP Castrol.
Pringle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing from Bloomsburg University.
John Pilley has been named vice president, sales, Europe and Asia Pacific. Pilley joined Lubrizol in 1984 and has held a variety of sales positions beginning as an account manager in the London office and then moving to global account management. In 2003, Pilley assumed the role of general manager for the Lubrizol Additives Europe and Africa sales regions.
Pilley holds a Masters of Arts degree in chemistry from Oxford University.
Lubrizol Advanced Materials
Joseph Chai was promoted to vice president and general manager, Performance Coatings. Since March 2005, Chai held the position of vice president, Asia Pacific, Lubrizol Advanced Materials and was based in Shanghai, China. He joined Lubrizol in 1991 and has held several positions, the majority covering the Asia-Pacific region, including sales, business development, marketing and technical services and regional business management. Prior to joining Lubrizol, Chai worked in various technical and product management roles at Kester Solder, a subsidiary of Litton Industries.
Chai earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University.
Bernard Wong was promoted to vice president, Asia Pacific, Lubrizol Advanced Materials. Wong originally joined Lubrizol Additives in 1990 and held various sales roles, including managing major international accounts in the Asia-Pacific region. He left Lubrizol to join BP in 1997. During his 10 years at BP, Wong held a variety of roles in sales, marketing and general management, mainly focused in the Asia-Pacific region. In March 2007 Wong rejoined Lubrizol as general manager Industrial Products, Asia Pacific for the LZA segment.
Wong earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and a Diploma in Business Administration degree from the National University of Singapore.
About The Lubrizol Corporation
The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies that improve the quality and performance of our customers' products in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. These technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, other transportation-related fluids and industrial lubricants, as well as fuel additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for personal care products and pharmaceuticals; specialty materials, including plastics technology and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives. Lubrizol's industry-leading technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers' products, while reducing their environmental impact.
With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, The Lubrizol Corporation owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 19 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 6,900 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2007 were $4.5 billion. For more information, visit www.lubrizol.com.
Media Contact
Julie Young
440/347-4432
Web Site: www.lubrizol.com
