Alcoa Announces Personnel Moves

    PITTSBURGH--Jan. 15, 2003--Alcoa today announced a series of personnel changes involving some of its markets.
    William F. Christopher, 48, has been named executive vice president, Alcoa and Group President for Alcoa Aerospace, Automotive and Commercial Transportation. Last September, he assumed responsibility for aerospace and commercial transportation and will now add accountability for Alcoa's global automotive market. This group includes Howmet Castings, Alcoa Fastening Systems, Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, AFL Automotive, Alcoa Cast Wheels and Alcoa Automotive businesses.
    Paul D. Thomas, 46, has become vice president, Alcoa and Group President for North American Fabricated Products, which includes the company's Mill Products and Engineered Products businesses. This structure will align the two businesses particularly in overlapping markets, including building and construction, transportation, and distribution. His most recent position was president of Alcoa Mill Products, which manufacturers sheet, heavy gauge foil and plate for the transportation, building and construction, and other industrial and consumer markets.
    Robert S. Hughes, 58, has been named Chairman's Counsel and will retire in mid-2003. He had been group president of Alcoa Automotive and Allied Products and president of Alcoa Fujikura Ltd., a joint venture between Alcoa and Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. He will assist with the transition of his responsibilities.
    Robert T. Alexander, 46, has been elected vice president of Alcoa and chairman of the AFL joint venture, which has locations in 64 countries. He had been president of AFL Automotive, with accountability for AFL's worldwide automotive businesses, which include design and manufacture of automotive electrical/electronic systems and components.
    Frank M. Larence, 53, has been named President of Diversified Products for the company. In this new position, Mr. Larence will be responsible for overseeing the operations of certain businesses in the packaging, building and construction, automotive, and general industrial and distribution sectors that Alcoa recently determined will be sold. These divestitures were announced in an Alcoa press release on Wednesday, January 8, 2003. In addition, in the interim, Mr. Larence, who had been president of the AFL Telecommunications Division located in Franklin, Tennessee, will maintain oversight responsibility for this business, which will remain an integral part of the AFL joint venture.
    Jody Gallagher, 45, succeeds Mr. Larence as president of AFL Telecommunications. He had been vice president of Optical Fiber Systems for the AFL unit since 2001.
    Biographical information follows:

    William F. Christopher

    Mr. Christopher is responsible for Alcoa's global efforts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial transportation areas. He also leads the customer and marketing initiatives for growth for the corporation.
    Mr. Christopher joined Alcoa in 1975 in the Finance organization following graduation from Penn State University. He also earned an MBA degree from Clarkson University. He held a series of financial, production and marketing management positions until 1996 when he was named president of Alcoa Forged Products, the Cleveland-based forgings and castings business. In 2001, he assumed responsibility for the global deployment of the Alcoa Business System, and the company's customer and quality initiatives. In 2002, he took on additional responsibility for Alcoa's global aerospace and commercial transportation markets. Mr. Christopher was elected an Alcoa vice president in 1999 and an executive vice president in 2001.

    Paul D. Thomas

    Mr. Thomas joined Alcoa in 1978 as an engineer at the company's Tennessee Operations following graduation from Lehigh University with a bachelor's degree in metallurgy and materials science. He later earned an MBA from the University of Tennessee. He held a variety of manufacturing and engineering assignments at Alcoa's Tennessee and Warrick (Ind.) facilities ultimately became fabricating and ingot manager at Tennessee. In 1995, Mr. Thomas was named managing director of Alcoa Manufacturing (GB) Ltd. located in Swansea, Wales. He returned to the U.S. as president of Alcoa's Engineered Products business in January 1998 and elected a vice president of Alcoa in September 1998. Mr. Thomas was named president of Alcoa's North American Extrusion business in 2000, when his responsibilities were broadened to include extruded construction products and extruded heat exchanger products, along with the Engineered Products business. He was named president of Alcoa Mill Products in 2001.

    Robert S. Hughes

    Bob Hughes was named president of AFL in 1996, elected a vice president of Alcoa in 1997, and appointed executive vice president of Alcoa and group president of Allied Products in 2001.
    During his extensive career with Alcoa, which started in 1967, he has held sales, marketing, manufacturing and business unit management positions with increasing responsibility. He assumed sales positions in Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis and Philadelphia before becoming manager of packaging sales in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1975. He participated in the Conference Board's Congressional Assistance Program in Washington, D.C. and upon his return to Alcoa worked as production superintendent, Cold Mills in Tennessee. He was based in Pittsburgh as central regional manager, Field Sales shortly thereafter he was named manager of Corporate Planning. In 1984, Mr. Hughes became marketing manager, Forging Division based in Cleveland, subsequently, was made plant manager, and in 1987 he became general manager, Wheel Products Division. He was named general manager, Alcoa Forgings and Castings Division in January 1991 and president of Alcoa Forged Products in August 1991. Mr. Hughes holds a marketing degree from West Virginia University.

    Robert T. Alexander

    Robert T. (Bob) Alexander was named to his most recent position as President, AFL Automotive Operations in 2001. He has held various engineering, program management, and business management positions during his tenure with Alcoa's AFL joint venture. He has served as general manager of AFL's Japanese automotive business, director of AFL's EDS programs, and vice president, Full Service Supply. In 1997, Mr. Alexander was named vice president of Design Engineering and Program Management for AFL. In 2000, he assumed accountability for AFL's manufacturing operations in North America and one year later was assigned full accountability for AFL Automotive Operations worldwide. Mr. Alexander has a degree in physics from Eastern Michigan University.

    Frank M. Larence

    Frank Larence joined Alcoa in 1972 in Alcoa's sales organization. He served in a number of sales management assignments in New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Indianapolis and Chicago, until being named manager of distribution at Alcoa's Davenport, Iowa, facility. In 1986, he was named director of commercial products for the Sheet & Plate Division in Davenport and, in 1991, he was named vice president and general manager of AFL Telecommunications Division and elected to AFL's Board of Directors. In 1998, he was named president of AFL Telecommunications Division. Mr. Lawrence received both a bachelor's degree in economics and an MBA degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

    Jody Gallagher

    Jody Gallagher joined Alcoa in 1979 at Alcoa's Rockdale, Texas operations as a financial analyst. He later moved to Alcoa's chemicals unit in finance until joining AFL Telecommunications in 1987. He has held positions in product and market management including national sales manager and was named to his most recent position as Vice President of Optical Fiber Systems for AFL Telecommunications in 2001. In this position, he is responsible for manufacturing, sales and marketing of AFL Telecommunications product lines worldwide.