HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 4, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Worldwide industrial services and products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced today that Ian Strachan has been elected to the Harsco Board of Directors effective Nov. 1, 2001.
Mr. Strachan served as chief executive officer of BTR, plc where he directed a major restructuring that transformed the company from a diversified industrial conglomerate into a focused engineering group. Following the merger of BTR and Siebe, he became Deputy Chairman of the combined company, known as Invensys plc. He previously served with Rio Tinto plc (formerly RTZ plc) as chief financial officer, and later as deputy chief executive officer responsible for the company's industrial minerals and industrial businesses, and was chief financial officer for Johnson and Higgins, now part of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Mr. Strachan began his executive career with Exxon Corporation, becoming chairman and chief executive officer of the Esso Group of Companies in Hong Kong and China and later, executive assistant to the chairman and manager, Corporate Strategy at Exxon's New York offices.
Harsco chairman, president and CEO Derek C. Hathaway said, "We are delighted to welcome Ian Strachan to the Harsco Board, and expect that his broad international business experience in major global industrial companies will be of substantial benefit as we continue to develop and grow Harsco."
Mr. Strachan holds an MA in History from Cambridge University, an MPA (Master in Public Affairs) from Princeton University and was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University. He serves on the boards of Reuters Group PLC, Transocean Sedco Forex Inc., and Instinet Group Incorporated, and as an adviser to Balli Group plc, a global steel distribution and trading company in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Strachan's election increases the number of Harsco directors to nine, eight of whom are outside directors.
Harsco Corporation is a $2 billion worldwide industrial services and products company serving global industries that are fundamental to economic growth, including infrastructure development, steel, railway transportation, gas and energy. The company employs more than 20,000 people in 40 countries. Additional information about Harsco can be found at www.harsco.com.