Air Products Announces Executive Changes

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) announces the following executive changes, effective immediately:

Corning F. Painter is appointed senior vice president, Corporate Strategy and Technology. In this role, Painter will be responsible for the company's Corporate Strategy, Technology, Marketing and Sustainability. He also will serve on Air Products' Corporate Executive Committee (CEC). Painter joined Air Products in 1984 as a participant in the company's Career Development Program and subsequently progressed through a variety of commercial and operating positions. Since 1992, Painter has served in a variety of commercial leadership positions for the Electronics Division in the United States, Europe and Asia. In 2004, Painter was appointed regional vice president, Asia Electronics, and additionally was named chairman of Air Products San Fu―a majority-owned joint venture company in Taiwan. He was appointed to his most recent position, vice president and general manager, Global Electronics, in 2006 and recently relocated to the United States after 11 years overseas. Painter received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1984.

John W. Marsland is appointed senior vice president and general manager, Electronics, Performance Materials and Supply Chain. He will assume responsibility for the Electronics and Performance Materials business segment in addition to his current duties of senior vice president, Supply Chain, where he has responsibility for Air Products' Global Engineering, Global Operations, Energy and Materials, and Continuous Improvement organizations. Marsland joined Air Products in 2002 as director–Business Development and was named vice president, Corporate Development Office, in 2003. He has since served in a variety of executive leadership positions, including vice president and general manager, Global Healthcare; vice president, Business Services; and most recently vice president and general manager, Global Liquid Bulk, Generated Gases and Helium. Marsland also is a member of the company's CEC. He graduated with High Distinction from Babson College in 1988 with a B.S. degree in finance and investments.

Wayne M. Mitchell is appointed vice president and general manager, Electronics. In this position, he is responsible for developing and implementing the global strategy for Air Products' Electronics business. Mitchell joined Air Products in 1988 as European sales and marketing manager when the company acquired Anchor Chemical Group PLC in Manchester, England. In the following years, he held a variety of commercial and management positions within Chemicals, including both domestic and international assignments. In 2003, Mitchell was appointed vice president and general manager, Performance Materials Division, prior to assuming his most recent position as vice president, Global Business Support Services (GBSS), in 2009. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1974.

Thomas J. Ward is appointed vice president, Global Business Support Services, and will be responsible for leading the company's support services for Human Resources, Finance, Customer Engagement, Procurement, Order Management and Delivery Scheduling. Ward joined Air Products in 1981 as a development engineer in the Applied Research and Development group. He subsequently held a variety of product management, global marketing and general management positions within the company's gases businesses. Ward served as business director for the company's SAP global implementation and was appointed vice president, Integrated Supply Chain, in 2004. He most recently served as vice president and general manager, North American Merchant Gases. Ward received a B.S. degree in metallurgical engineering in 1981 and an M.B.A. in 1986, both from Lehigh University.

Ivo Bols is appointed vice president and general manager, Global Liquid Bulk, Generated Gases and Helium. In this position, he is responsible for developing and implementing the global strategy for the company's liquid bulk, generated gases and helium businesses. Bols joined Air Products' European operations in 1988 as a financial analyst. He subsequently held a variety of sales, marketing and business management positions before being appointed vice president, Northern Continent and Global Packaged Gases Center of Excellence in 2003. He relocated to Singapore in 2007 where he most recently held the position of vice president and general manager, Merchant Gases–Asia. Bols received a degree as a bio-engineer in 1983 from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, and an M.B.A. in 1985.

Complete biographies and downloadable photos are available online at www.airproducts.com/company/company-overview/our-leadership/executive-biographies.aspx.

SOURCE Air Products