Crown Holdings, Inc. Announces Senior Management Changes For Its European Division
- Gerard H. Gifford to be promoted to President, CROWN Europe
- Christopher C. Homfray will serve as an Executive Vice President of the European Division
PHILADELPHIA, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK) today announced that Christopher C. Homfray, President of CROWN Europe, will step down due to personal reasons. He will remain with the Company as an Executive Vice President of the Company's European Division, based in Baar, Switzerland, reporting to John W. Conway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crown.
Gerard H. Gifford, 57, President CROWN Beverage Packaging North America, has been named as the new President of CROWN Europe, effective June 1, 2012.
"Our North American beverage business has made significant improvement in all areas including safety, quality, sustainability, productivity and profitability since Jerry assumed his current role in 2008," said Mr. Conway. "I have the utmost confidence in Jerry's ability to lead CROWN Europe."
Mr. Gifford has been with the Company for more than 29 years and has moved up in positions of progressive responsibility and leadership encompassing management, operations and customer relationships. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Clarkson University and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
"Chris has led our European operations very successfully during a period of volatile currencies and commodity prices as well as challenging economic times. We were very fortunate to have had Chris during this time and I look forward to working with him in expanding our operating platform across Europe," said Mr. Conway.
Mr. Homfray, who joined Crown in 1995 and since 2006 has been president of CROWN Europe, stated, "I am confident this transition to new leadership will be smooth and seamless for our employees and other stakeholders, and allows what is best for my family and me personally."
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all other information in this press release consists of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the statements made in this press release or the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ are discussed under the caption "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in subsequent filings made prior to or after the date hereof. The Company does not intend to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement in light of future events.
About Crown Holdings, Inc.
Crown makes a wide range of metal packaging for food, beverage, personal care, household and industrial products and can making equipment. The Company's business is structured geographically within three divisions: Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. CROWN Europe is comprised of 73 plants in 27 countries, employing approximately 12,000 people. In 2011, the Division had net sales of approximately $4.4 billion.
Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact:
For editorial inquiries: Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs; Tel: (215) 698-5266; Email: thomas.fischer@crowncork.com
For investors: Thomas A. Kelly, Senior Vice President Finance, Tel: (215) 698-5341, or
Ed Bisno, Bisno Communications, Tel: (212) 717-7578.
SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc.