H.B. Fuller Co. recently announced that Steven Kenny will join the company as senior vice president, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India), on Oct. 5, 2009, and Stephen Ringsdore will join the company as vice president of Western Europe, on Sept. 1, 2009. Kenny will also serve as a member of H.B. Fuller’s executive committee. The moves reflect H.B. Fuller’s commitment to profitable growth in its established markets in Western Europe, while pursuing growth opportunities and geographic expansion in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Kenny, 48, has built an extensive career in the adhesives industry, having spent 25 years with National Starch and Chemical. Before leaving that company in 2008, he served as corporate vice president and general manager for National Starch’s adhesives division, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. In that role, he led 900 employees in 15 countries, including operations in Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Kenny, who spent his early career in sales and sales management positions with National Starch, also served as divisional vice president and general manager for the company’s Vinamul Polymers Division in North America; general manager for Chile; and business group director for Bondmaster Adhesives in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. He is currently based in Warwickshire, UK, and serves as president for the specialty packaging business of Pregis, a Deerfield, IL-based global specialty packaging company. Kenny holds a masters degree in economics from the University of Edinburgh.

Ringsdore, 51, has 26 years of adhesive industry experience, including 25 with National Starch and Chemical. Since 2007, he has served as managing director, Industrial Adhesives, China, where he has overseen operations in China and Taiwan, driving sales growth and significantly improved return on sales, and managing the company’s recent integration with Henkel in this market. His other previous positions include: regional sales director for National’s North American Adhesives Division; business director of the pressure sensitive adhesives business; regional sales director for the Eastern United States; regional sales director for the UK, France and Ireland; and general manager of the UK. Ringsdore holds a bachelors degree in economic history from Southampton University.  

For more information, visit www.hbfuller.com.