Arch Aluminum Has a New CEO
July 30, 2010

Arch Aluminum & Glass in Tamarac, Fla., has appointed a new chief executive officer (CEO), Jeff Leone.

Leone replaces Frank Busam, who had been appointed interim CEO by Sun Captial, Arch Aluminum's parent company, following the resignation of Leon Silverstein (CLICK HERE for related story).

In an exclusive interview with USGNN.com™, Leone said that he comes to the company through his relationship with Sun Capital, although he has experience in the building industry as well. "I used to work with BASF," he says, "and was second in command at Mapei, a chemical company."

Despite the turbulence of the past few months since Arch declared bankruptcy, Leone says that he's very optimistic about the fabricator's future. "The more I look at the fundamentals, it's a good company," he says. He also notes that the company is "bringing in a world-class team."

Among that team is Suresh Kumar, the new chief operating officer at Arch. Kumar most recently owned a consulting firm, Kumar & Associates, but served as president of Oldcastle Glass Engineered Products from 2003 to 2006 and vice president of operations at Vitro America from 1989 to 2003.

"He has a good track record in the industry," Leone says, adding that Kumar will assist in running Arch's plants.

Leone's primary goal has been to take a look at how to improve the company, and he notes that things are looking up.

"In the last 30 days we've come out of the bankruptcy process," he says, adding, "We've reengaged our supply base … as we get under the hood we've tweaked a few things but we find it's a good company."

Leone adds that he's interested to hear from customers and suppliers alike what Arch can do to improve in the future.

CLICK HERE to read the news release on Leone's appointment.

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