U.S. Can Announces Corporate Reorganization

U.S. Can Corporation this week announced a corporate restructuring which will allow the company to respond more efficiently to customer expectations and to position it for future growth. Under the new organization, each of the business operations will be responsible for marketing, market strategy, manufacturing, sales and overall business leadership.

"By reorganizing the leadership team, each of our business operations-- Aerosol; Paint, General Line and Plastic; Custom and Specialty; and International--will have total business unit responsibility from product inception through delivery to the customer," said Paul Jones, chairman and CEO of U.S. Can.

In addition to the four business operations, a business support organization has been created to focus on overall quality assurance, manufacturing systems and programs, plant rationalizations and restructuring, and manufacturing technology and strategy for each of the business units.

Frank Galvin, executive vice president and general manager, will lead the Aerosol operation. U.S. Can is the domestic leader in aerosol can production. This is the company's largest product line accounting for approximately 60% of the company's sales.

The Paint, General Line and Plastic operation will be led by Lawrence Messina, senior vice president and general manager. Accounting for approximately 27% of sales in 1997, this product group includes round cans for paint and coatings, oblong cans for products such as turpentine and charcoal lighter fluid, and plastic pails and other containers for industrial and consumer products. U.S. Can Plastics is the result of several acquisitions and concentrates on the paint, pool chemical and poultry markets. The company is a leader in producing metal and plastic containers used in the paint and chemical industries in the United States.

Leading the Custom and Specialty products operation is Larry Morrison, vice president and general manager. Representing approximately 12% of the company's sales in 1997, Custom and Specialty products is one of the newer segments of the business. Its products represent a wide array of functional and decorative containers and tins, as well as collectible items such as metal trading cards and signs.

David Ford, senior vice president-International and president of European operations, will continue to lead the International operation where U.S. Can holds the number two position in the European aerosol market. During the past two years, U.S. Can has expanded its European presence through an acquisition and the start up of a new manufacturing facility in Wales.