AKRON (Dec. 10, 2004) — Rubber & Plastics News (RPN), Crain Communications Inc.'s newspaper for the rubber product manufacturing industry, has named Thomas A. Dattilo, Cooper chairman, president and CEO, its Rubber Industry Executive of the Year.
The editors of RPN cited Mr. Dattilo's achievements over the past few years to transform the company into a more flexible, dynamic enterprise.
Among the achievements cited were: growth of nearly 25 percent; the repositioning of the Cooper brand more into the mainstream of flag brands in North America; establishment of a high-performance product range; the firm's stock outperforming the competition; selling its Cooper-Standard Automotive division for a premium; and Mr. Dattilo's efforts on behalf of the rubber industry in his role as chairman of the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
Mr. Dattilo, 53, is the second Cooper CEO to receive the honor; Ivan W. Gorr, Cooper's top executive from 1989 to 1994, won the RPN award in 1989.