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Corporate Strategies -- July 2002

R. T. Vanderbilt Reorganized Into Three Market-Driven Global Business Units

R. T. Vanderbilt Co., Inc., has reorganized its Sales and Marketing Department to better serve its customers, both domestically and abroad. This change will result in the formation of three market-driven global business units (Rubber and Plastics, Minerals, and Petroleum).

The global sales and marketing units will be directed by Kenneth H. Kelly, who has been promoted to vice president and general manager, Sales and Marketing. Kelly has spent 13 years with Vanderbilt's Rubber and Plastic's Department in sales and sales management.

The newly formed global business units will be headed by:

Jack Hattendorf, vice-president and global business manager, Lubricant Additives. Hattendorf has held a variety of positions during his 22 years with Vanderbilt's Petroleum Department, most recently managing the domestic segment.

Randy Johnson, vice-president and global business manager, Minerals. During Johnson's 17 years with the company, he has managed the Ceramics Department and recently the entire domestic minerals business.

Shaun King, global business manager, Rubber and Plastics. During King's 14 years with Vanderbilt, he has served in the Quality and Sales Departments. Most recently, he managed a segment of the polymer-distribution business.

Other changes within the organization will help support the company's globalization initiative.

John Brinkmann, senior vice-president, International Sales, will continue to focus on the company's international distributor network and Vanderbilt's global Web-based business platform.

John Benton, managing director of Vanderbilt's office in Paris, will replace Jim Talbot, who retired at the end of 2001. Most recently, Benton served as manager of Vanderbilt's West Coast office.

Wayne Vanderhoof, manager of West Coast Sales, replaces Benton. During his 15-year career with Vanderbilt, Vanderhoof served as a technical sales representative in the Midwest for the Rubber and Plastics Department as well as business manager, Adhesives.

The promotions from within the organization resulted in openings for three technical sales representatives in the United States. The following appointments have been made:

Eric Johnson, technical sales representative, Rubber and Plastics Department, covering Michigan and Indiana. Johnson was most recently employed as a senior chemical specialist with Freudenberg-NOK.

John Deas, technical sales representative, Rubber and Plastics Department, covering the Southeastern states. Deas brings to Vanderbilt 19 years of experience in the chemical, custom-mix and finished-goods segments of the rubber industry. He was most recently employed by Hoke Rubber Products, Inc.

Alan Anderson, technical sales representative, Petroleum Department, covering the Midwest. Anderson brings to Vanderbilt over 20 years of experience in the lubricating oil and grease industry. He was most recently employed by Century Lubricants, a division of Fuchs Lubricants Co.

For more information, contact R.T. Vanderbilt, 30 Winfield St., PO Box 5150, Norwalk, CT 06856; call 203-853-1400; fax 203-853-1452; e-mail sales@rtvanderbilt.com; or visit the Web site www.rtvanderbilt.com. Or Circle No. 50.