Paint and Coatings Industry News

Main News Page

RPM Shuffles Top Finance Team

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

More items for Coating Materials

The parent company of Carboline, Stonhard, Tremco and other industrial coatings brands is reshuffling its financial leadership team as its CFO prepares to step down.

RPM International’s board of directors has elected Russell L. Gordon, vice president of corporate planning, as vice president and CFO of the holding company, effective April 10. Gordon will replace Robert L. Matejka, who plans to retire May 31, at the end of the company’s fiscal year.

Russell L. Gordon becomes VP and CFO of RPM on April 10.

Gordon will oversee all of RPM's finance functions, including corporate accounting, financial reporting, global tax administration and investor relations.  He joined the company as director of corporate development in 1995 and assumed his current position in 1997.

‘Extraordinary Role’

Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and CEO, credited Matejka with playing “an extraordinary role in RPM's success over the past 12 years.”

Matthew T. Ratajczak becomes vice president, global taxes and treasurer.

The company’s revenues have grown by about 80 percent, driving net income growth of 90 percent, since Matejka became CFO in fiscal 2002, Sullivan said.

Keith R. Smiley will be vice president of finance and controller.

“This accomplishment has been achieved despite two recessions and a huge expansion in regulatory, compliance and reporting requirements,” Sullivan said. “I thank Bob for the tremendous dedication and leadership that he provided during these exciting, challenging and tumultuous times.”

RPM subsidiaries supply some of the world’s best-known specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services. Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Universal Sealants, Fibergrate and Euco. 

Barry M. Slifstein becomes vice president of investor relations and planning.

RPM’s industrial segment is going strong this year, with a 10.1% increase in industrial segment sales, to $641.5 million, in the second quarter of 2012 and a 10.7% increase in the first quarter.

Other Changes

RPM also announced these other changes within its finance department, effective April 10.

• Keith R. Smiley, who is now vice president, treasurer and assistant secretary, will become vice president of finance and controller. Smiley joined RPM as an internal auditor in 1992, later serving as corporate controller and then treasurer before assuming his current post in 1999.
 
• Matthew T. Ratajczak, vice president of global taxes, will assume additional treasury responsibilities as vice president of global taxes and treasurer. Ratajczak joined RPM as director of taxes in 2004 and has held his current position since 2005.

• Barry M. Slifstein, vice president and controller, will become vice president of investor relations and planning. Slifstein formerly was CFO of RPM’s DAP Products group before joining RPM in his present capacity in 2008.

“RPM is fortunate to have an exceptionally talented team of finance professionals, and this realignment is designed to maximize the company's utilization of each individual's unique strengths,” said Sullivan.