ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Exide Technologies (Nasdaq:XIDE) (www.exide.com), a global leader in stored electrical-energy solutions, announced today the appointment of Carol Knies as Senior Director of Investor Relations, effective immediately. Reporting to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Phillip A. Damaska, Ms. Knies will be responsible for the Company's global investor and shareholder relations. In compliance with corporate policies and securities regulations, she will work to maintain the relationship between Exide and its current and potential shareholders and the general financial community.
Ms. Knies brings a high level of management competence and more than 20 years of diverse experience to her new role at Exide. She served most recently as Vice President, Investor Relations for Atlanta, Ga.-based HomeBanc Corporation, the parent holding company for its wholly owned subsidiary, HomeBanc Mortgage Corporation, which services residential mortgage loans. During her three years with the organization, Ms. Knies was the primary point of contact and corporate liaison with security analysts and investors; she also was responsible for interpreting and disseminating crucial financial information through news releases, earnings announcements and annual reports.
Prior to her time at HomeBanc, she served as Regional Administrative Manager for McDonald's Corporation, the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants serving 52 million people in more than 100 countries each day. While based in Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Knies had full responsibility for managing systems operations and services for all departments in the geographic area and resolved a number of critical issues affecting business profitability.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Knies spent three years as Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Atmos Energy Corporation, the largest natural gas-only utility company in the U.S. While there, she managed relationships with company shareholders and maintained regular contact with analysts, fund managers and stockbrokers. Prior to this role, she was Manager of Financial Reporting at United Cities Propane, Inc. and also held a number of positions at United Cities Gas Company, including Manager of Shareholder Relations. In addition, Ms. Knies served as a Tax Accountant for Quorum Health Group and Assistant Tax Manager for the Kollmorgen Corporation.
"Carol is a proven leader whose investor relations capabilities will enhance financial communications between Exide and our key stakeholders," said Mr. Damaska. "In this newly created position, she will work with our senior leaders to more closely integrate our investor relations strategy into Exide's business objectives and corporate communications initiatives."
Ms. Knies holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee and also is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
(XIDE-C)
About Exide Technologies
Exide Technologies, with operations in more than 80 countries, is one of the world's largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company's four global business groups -- Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World -- provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and 42-volt automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.
Further information about Exide, including its financial results, is available at www.exide.com.
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