COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2004--Worthington
Industries Inc. (NYSE:WOR) announced today the appointment of company
President, John S. Christie, as Chief Financial Officer.
Christie, 54, has served as President and Chief Operating Officer
of Worthington Industries since June 1999. He will retain the
President's title as he moves from COO to CFO.
"John has demonstrated his strong financial and leadership skills
in his oversight of this function over the past four months," John P.
McConnell, Chairman and CEO said. "In his experience as COO, Mr.
Christie gained a deep understanding of our operations and that will
serve us well in his new area of responsibility. Along with
Worthington's excellent finance team, he brings solid financial
discipline to all areas of the company. Mr. Christie will continue to
provide us with great perspective and leadership."
McConnell also announced that the four presidents of the company's
business units will now be reporting directly to him. "I look forward
to working closely with the presidents," McConnell said. "We have a
strong team in place and we are well positioned to grow our business."
Christie brings more than 25 years of financial experience to his
new position. After earning his bachelor's degree in business
administration from Miami University of Ohio and his MBA from Emory
University in Atlanta, he began his career in banking as a financial
analyst and as a national commercial loan officer at The First
National Bank of Atlanta, now Wachovia Bank. He helped establish banks
in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, for the then Cleveland Trust
Company. Before coming to Worthington, Christie most recently was
president of JMAC, Inc., a multi-million dollar, diversified
investment company. He was also senior vice president, corporate
development, for Battelle, a leading global research institution.
Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing
company with annual sales of approximately $2 billion. The Columbus,
Ohio, based company is North America's premier value-added steel
processor and a leader in manufactured metal products such as
automotive past model stampings, pressure cylinders, metal framing,
metal ceiling grid systems and laser welded blanks. The company
employs 8,000 people and operates 63 facilities in 10 countries.
Founded in 1955, the company operates under a long-standing
corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule, with earning money for
its shareholders as the first corporate goal. This philosophy, an
unwavering commitment to the customer, and one of the strongest
employee/employer partnerships in American industry serve as the
company's foundation.
Safe Harbor Statement
The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions
included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("the
Act"). Statements by the company, which are not historical information
constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Act.
All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
which could cause actual results to differ from those projected.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include
risks described from time to time in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Worthington Industries, Inc.
Cathy Mayne Lyttle, 614-438-3077
cmlyttle@WorthingtonIndustries.com
Allison McFerren Sanders, 614-840-3133
asanders@WorthingtonIndustries.com
SOURCE: Worthington Industries, Inc.