Valvoline Announces Management Changes
Press Release
Valvoline Announces Management Changes
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040113/ASHLANDLOGO )
Mitchell also announced that Scott R. Vogel, a consumer marketing executive, has joined the division as president of Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC), Valvoline's quick-lube business unit. In a related move, John Q. Wesley, former president of VIOC, was named senior vice president and general manager for Valvoline's DIFM (do-it-for-me) Distributor Group business unit.
"These changes in the Valvoline senior management team will assure a future of continued growth and success of the company together with sustained top-quartile performance," Mitchell said.
Skaggs is promoted to vice president of worldwide operations and supply chain, replacing James V. Rocco, who recently announced his retirement from Ashland in early 2005. Skaggs will be responsible for Valvoline packaging and blending facilities worldwide, customer service and the supply chain. He will continue to manage the OnSite fleet services start-up business as well as Lube Industry Sales, and will work with Ashland resource groups to manage purchasing and environmental, health and safety.
Skaggs joined Valvoline in 1984 and most recently served as vice president of business transformation. His background includes plant management experience, human resources management and supply chain management. Skaggs graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He also completed the Executive Development Program at Indiana University.
Craycraft is promoted to vice president, business transformation, and will lead the division's innovation, enVision and business effectiveness groups. He also will work with Ashland resource groups to manage Valvoline's information technology and accounting functions.
Craycraft, who most recently served as vice president and general manager for Valvoline's distributor group, joined Ashland in 1992. He has served in a number of sales and management positions, including general manager of the division's Eagle One business unit. Craycraft has a bachelor's degree in economics from Vanderbilt University.
Vogel joins the Valvoline division as president of VIOC, one of the nation's largest providers of DIFM automotive fluid maintenance services with more than 730 locations. Prior to joining Ashland, Vogel ran a California- based company that markets movie prop replicas in the $12 billion collectibles industry. Vogel also held a variety of executive marketing and business leadership positions with The Clorox Company in Oakland, Calif. Vogel received a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science and a master's in public policy from the University of Wisconsin. He also holds a master's degree from Harvard Business School.
Wesley becomes senior vice president and general manager of Valvoline's growing distributor business for the United States and Canada, responsible for sales of all Valvoline brands and services through distributors to the DIFM channel. In addition, Wesley will be responsible for the division's antifreeze business. Wesley joined Ashland in 1982 as a sales representative. Most recently he served as president of VIOC. Wesley is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. He also completed The General Manager Program at Harvard Business School.
Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc., has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil company and is a leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive and industrial products in more than 100 countries. Best known for its lubricants, Valvoline also markets Eagle One® appearance products, Zerex® antifreeze, SynPower® performance products, Pyroil® automotive chemicals and MaxLife® products created for higher-mileage engines. Valvoline also has a stake in the growing quick-lube market with its Valvoline Instant Oil Change unit.
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 transportation construction, chemicals and petroleum company providing products, services and customer solutions throughout the world. To learn more about Ashland, visit http://www.ashland.com .
Trademark, Harvard Business School Executive Education
SOURCE Ashland Inc.
-0- 11/17/2004
/CONTACT: Martin A. Kish of Ashland Inc., +1-859-357-7256, or
makish@ashland.com /
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(ASH)
CO: Ashland Inc.; Valvoline; Valvoline Instant Oil Change
ST: Kentucky
IN: OIL AUT
SU: PER
JT-WB
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0573 11/17/2004 10:50 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
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| "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Ashland's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. |