NewsNow,USGlassMay2012

theBusiness

Volume 47, Issue 5 - May 2012

NewsNow

NSG’s President Craig Naylor Resigns, Citing “Fundamental Disagreements”
NSG Group president and CEO Craig Naylor resigned from the company on April 18, just two years after being named to the post in April 2010 (see related story in May 2010 USGlass, page 58). Company officials have attributed Naylor’s decision to leave to “fundamental disagreements.”

“Craig Naylor’s decision to tender his resignation reflected fundamental disagreements with the board on company strategy,” says Katsuji Fujimoto, NSG Group chair. “This is regrettable, but we thank Craig for his efforts over the past two years and wish him well in the future. Our priority now is to concentrate on the future development of the company.”

Naylor will remain with the company as a board member and as an executive officer.

Keiji Yoshikawa, who had been named chief project management officer for the company during a February 2012 re-organization, has been named as Naylor’s replacement.

In his capacity as president and CEO, Yoshikawa assumes overall responsibility for overseeing the profitable operations and development of the NSG Group.

With the departure of Naylor, the company has announced several other personnel moves. Clemens Miller has been appointed representative executive officer, executive vice president and chief operating officer. As COO, Miller will take direct responsibility for the day-to-day management of all of the Group’s operations.

Mark Lyons will continue in the role of chief financial officer but also has been appointed representative executive officer.

Naylor joined the company with a resume that included a 36-year stint with Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont, serving most recently as group vice president for the company up until 2006. He joined NSG just seven months after another notable NSG executive, Stuart Chambers, stepped down from his post as president and CEO in August 2009—just 14 months after his appointment to the position in June 2008 (see related story in September 2009 USGlass, page 14). Fujimoto had served as president and CEO for eight months—between the time that Chambers left the company and Naylor joined in April 2010.

Chambers had succeeded Fujimoto—who was named CEO in August 2007 (but had previously served as president). At that time, Fujimoto served in the position for less than a year, from August 2007 until June 2008 when Chambers took over—making Yoshikawa the worldwide company’s fourth leader in just five short years (see related story in December 2007 USGlass, page 104). Fujimoto remains chair of the company.

GANA to Host Fall Conference in Chicago
The Glass Association of North America (GANA) in Topeka, Kan., has announced that it will host its annual fall conference September 19-22 at the Hilton Chicago in downtown Chicago. The event had been held in Kansas City the previous three years.

“The best technical minds in the glass and glazing industry come together in September at GANA’s fall conference in Chicago,” says Jay Phillips, president of GANA. “These working meetings define our industry standards and provide recommendations for the appropriate use of glass to the design and construction communities.”

Several top issues of concern for the glass and glazing industry will be on the agenda for the conference. “Many critical issues will be discussed, including the appropriate glass for balconies, realistic daylighting recommendations, lifecycle analysis of glass products and defending the use of glass and glazing in commercial buildings,” Phillips says. “By attending fall conference, you help shape our industry and ensure your interests are heard.”

“In addition to the working meetings, fall conference will include discussions on building enclosure commissioning and what it means for the industry, ASHRAE 90.1 and ICC code activity updates and an ASTM Standards update,” adds Urmilla Sowell, technical director of GANA.