Emerson announces management promotions

Friday, May 27, 2011

ST. LOUIS -- Emerson (NYSE:EMR) announced Friday a number of key leadership changes that will become effective June 1.

D. Scott Barbour will be named executive vice president of Emerson and business leader of Emerson Network Power Systems, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Edward K. Feeney, who has been business leader since 2007, will become chairman of Emerson Network Power Systems.

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In their new roles, Feeney and Barbour will report to the Office of the Chief Executive.

"Scott has done an outstanding job over many years with Emerson Climate Technologies, driving new levels of technology innovation and global service for our customers," said David N. Farr, Chairman and CEO, Emerson. "I am confident that this talent, leadership and commitment will bring continuing success and new opportunities for growth in our Network Power business."

After beginning his career at Emerson as a program manager in 1989, Barbour held increasingly responsible positions at Copeland Corporation, including product planning, residential market manager, and director and vice president of air conditioning marketing respectively.

In 1998, he became executive vice president and later also general manager of the A/C business, and in 2003 was named president of that business.

Since 2008, Barbour has served as president of Emerson Climate Technologies - Asia and was named Group Vice President in 2010.

Barbour holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University and a master's degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.

As chairman, on the other hand, Feeney will focus on strategic planning, technology, key customer relationships and organizational planning.

D. Scott Barbour (left), executive vice president of Emerson and business leader of Emerson Network Power Systems, and Edward K. Feeney (right), chairman of Emerson Network Power Systems.

Farr announced additional changes to the Emerson Network Power management structure:

* Charles E. Spears, president of Liebert North America since 2007, will become President of Liebert Corporation, reporting to Barbour. He joined Copeland Corporation in 1978 and held several senior positions in the company's Scroll operations before being named President Copeland-Asia in 1999 and President Emerson Climate Technologies-Europe in 2003. Spears holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University.

* Francis W. Bibens, president of Liebert Services, will become president of Emerson Network Power Systems Global Services, reporting to Barbour. He joined the company in 2006 following 27 years at GE, rising to general manager of Global Operations and Maintenance. Bibens holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.

* Steve C. Hassell, president of Avocent, will now report to Barbour. He joined Emerson as vice president and CIO in 2004, and was named president of Avocent in 2010. Hassell holds a bachelor's degree from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and a master of business administration from Northwestern University.

* Manish Bhandari has been promoted to president of Emerson Network Power's Industrial UPS business, reporting to Barbour, and will relocate to Lyon, France. He joined Emerson as a corporate planner in 2002, rising to vice president and general manager of sales and marketing for Emerson Network Power Energy Systems North America in 2008. Bhandari holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Jodphur in India, a master of business administration from XLRI School of Business & Human Resources in India, and a master of business administration from INSEAD.

Steve C. Hassell (left), president of Avocent, and Charles E. Spears (right), president of Liebert Corporation.

Farr also announced management changes for Emerson Climate Technologies:

* Ram R. Krishnan, president of Emerson Climate Technologies' Refrigeration business since 2007, has been named president of Emerson Climate Technologies-Asia and will move to Hong Kong. He joined Emerson in 1994 as a project engineer for Xomox, rising through a series of senior positions with Emerson Process Management Valve Automation and Gas Chromatographs businesses before being named President Emerson Process Management Analytical Liquid in 2005. Krishnan holds a bachelor's degree from Indian Institute of Technology, a master of science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a master of business administration from Xavier University.

* Robert P. Bauer, group vice president of Emerson Network Power and President Liebert Corporation, will move to Emerson Climate Technologies to assume duties as President, Refrigeration Division. He began his career at Emerson in 1994 as vice president of marketing for US Electrical Motors, moving to assume duties as president of Control Techniques in 1997, president of Liebert North America in 1998, before advancing to his current leadership position in 2004. Bauer holds a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University.

"I am confident that these new assignments and responsibilities for our management team will continue to provide a solid foundation to enhance our strong leadership positions in the industries we serve," said Farr.

"Their combined experience sends a strong message about the commitment of Emerson Network Power and Emerson Climate Technologies to serving our customers' needs," he added. (PR)