MIDLAND, MICH. - Dow Chemical Co. shook its management ladder Oct. 17 to streamline decision-making at 15 global businesses. William S. Stavropoulos, president and chief operating officer, said the change shifts from management teams set up around geographic areas to one centered on global businesses. The move is being made to improve Dow's efficiency, he said.
Industry analysts said the Dow announcement is long overdue.
``This will lower costs and bring them closer to the marketplace,'' said analyst Paul Raman, of S.G. Warburg of New York.
Other companies making similar moves were DuPont Co. and Eastman Chemical Co., he said.
The moves are effective Nov. 1, when Stavropoulos becomes president and chief executive.
Some of the people reporting to Stavropoulos and serving on the management board are:
Anthony J. Carbone, group vice president, has executive reporting responsibility for adhesives, sealants & coatings; epoxy products and intermediates; engineering thermoplastics and polypropylene; hydrocarbons; Insite technology; polyethylene; and polystyrene and polyurethanes. He also has executive reporting responsibility for Dow Pacific.
Michael D. Parker, group vice president. Parker has executive reporting responsibility for emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals and Dow Latin America. He is directly in charge of chemicals and metals and Dow North America.
Yves Bobillier, vice president of Fabricated Products and president of Dow Europe. He has executive reporting responsibility for DowBrands, and direct responsibility for fabricated products and Dow Europe.
Fernand J. Kaufmann, vice president, new business and strategic development.
Arnold A. Allemang, vice president, manufacturing and engineering.
J. Pedro Reinhard, financial vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer.
Richard Sosville, vice president for sales and marketing, has been given additional duties.