Business News
Leadership Changes to Accelerate H.B. Fullers Profitable Growth in EMEA
Friday 24. July 2009 - Steven Kenny joins company as senior vice president, EMEA and India; Stephen Ringsdore joins company as vice president, Western Europe
H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL) announced today 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. Fullers Executive Committee. The moves reflect H.B. Fullers 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 Starchs 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 companys 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, U.K., and serves as president for the specialty packaging business of Pregis, a Deerfield, Ill., 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 improving return on sales, and managing the companys recent integration with Henkel in this market. Previous positions include: regional sales director for Nationals 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 U.K., France and Ireland; and general manager of the U.K. Ringsdore holds a bachelors degree in economic history from Southampton University.
“We are delighted to welcome two very talented industry veterans, Steven Kenny and Stephen Ringsdore, to the H.B. Fuller team. Both bring extensive industry experience, proven commercial track records of delivering profitable growth in both established and emerging markets, and solid leadership expertise. They will be instrumental in driving H.B. Fullers transformation to profitable growth in EMEA and expanding the regions geographic presence into higher growth markets,” said Michele Volpi, H.B. Fuller president and chief executive officer. “Through their leadership, we will be well-positioned to capitalize on the many opportunities in front of us and unlock the tremendous potential of our second largest region.”
Jan Muller, H.B. Fullers vice president of EMEA since 2006, has left the company to pursue other opportunities. During the interim, the EMEA region will report to Michele Volpi.