Hardinge CEO Robert E. Agan to retire, J. Patrick Ervin elected new CEO
Elmira, NY — N/A, a leading producer of machine tools, today announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert E. Agan, 62, announced plans to retire as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer immediately after Hardinge's 2001 Annual Meeting on May 1, 2001. Hardinge's Board of Directors elected J. Patrick Ervin as Chief Executive Officer effective at that time. Mr. Ervin is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Hardinge also announced the election of Mr. Ervin and Richard L. Simons to its Board of Directors. Mr. Simons, with the company for over 17 years, is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
Mr. Agan stated, "My retirement is consistent with a long-term plan that I have had in place with our board of directors. I am currently in my 45th year with the Company."
"I am delighted that Pat Ervin, who is a highly talented and experienced executive with enormous breadth and depth of knowledge of Hardinge's business, will be the Company's new CEO. Pat has over 23 years of experience in the manufacturing and selling of Hardinge machine tools and has been involved in worldwide sales, marketing, engineering and manufacturing for several years. I have watched him grow as he has assumed increasing levels of responsibilities over the years and can say that his values are consistent with those of Hardinge, its employees and customers. Pat's leadership skills and vision will enable the Company to capitalize on the growth opportunities inherent in Hardinge's expanding product line and global geographical reach."
"I am very proud of the management team that is in place to follow me and most confident that they will continue to implement the strategies that will enable Hardinge to maintain its profitable growth," added Mr. Agan.
Also effective immediately after the Annual Meeting, E. Martin Gibson has been elected Chairman of the Board. Mr. Gibson has been a Hardinge director since 1981 and prior to his retirement in December of 1994, was a director of Corning Incorporated and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Corning Lab Services, Inc., provider of clinical and pharmaceutical laboratory services, now Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. He is currently also a Director of International Technology Corp.
Mr. Gibson commented, "Bob Agan's accomplishments throughout his 45-year career at Hardinge are, quite simply, outstanding. Since his election as President in 1983, he has managed the Company through dramatic technological changes upon the introduction of CNC controls and consequential intense competition that controls brought to the industry. More recently, he led the Company through its successful initial public offering in 1995 and was instrumental in it developing and implementing a strategic plan aimed at establishing Hardinge as an international company. Under Bob's watch, the Company has, through both acquisitions and joint ventures, significantly broadened its product line and its manufacturing capabilities in other parts of the world, effectively positioning Hardinge to compete in a global marketplace. He will be sorely missed, but I am also confident that Hardinge has the appropriate people in place to add to Bob's many successes."
Hardinge Inc., founded more than 100 years ago, is an international leader in providing the latest industrial technology to companies requiring material-cutting solutions. The Company designs and manufactures computer-numerically controlled metal-cutting lathes, machining centers, grinding machines, electrical discharge machines and other industrial products. The Company's common stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol "HDNG." For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.hardinge.com .
To receive additional information on Hardinge Inc., via fax at no charge, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter code HDNG.
N/A, One Hardinge Drive, Elmira, NY 14902-1507 USA. Tel: 607-734-2281. Fax: 607-734-8819.
Source: Hardinge Inc.