F.F. Sommer, Citation President and COO, Named Chief Executive Officer by Board
14 August 1998
F.F. Sommer, Citation President and COO, Named Chief Executive Officer by Board
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Aug. 14, 1998--F.F. Sommer, Citation President and COO, was named Chief Executive Officer, at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors August 13.
The appointment was made at the request of T. Morris Hackney, Citation Chairman, founder, and formerly CEO, who had indicated a desire to move to a less active role in the Company. Mr. Hackney, 66, retains his role as Chairman of the Board. The moves are effective Monday, August 17.
F.F. "Rick" Sommer joined Citation Corporation in August 1996. He had been President and CEO of Automotive Industries, Inc., an automotive supplier. Mr. Sommer joined the company in 1990 as Executive Vice President. From 1990 through 1996, sales at Automotive Industries grew from approximately $170 million to $700 million and Lear Seating, Inc. subsequently acquired the company.
Mr. Sommer has more than 30 years of automotive engineering and management experience. Nissan Motor Manufacturing Company previously employed him in engineering, operating and staff executive positions. Prior to that he was with Ford Motor Company for 17 years in various engineering and operating positions.
Mr. Hackney, who founded the Company in 1975 from one location in Bessemer, Alabama, has been the only Chief Executive Officer at Citation until now. The Company's sales were approximately $2.5 million in its first year and almost went under, but Mr. Hackney persevered.
Through a combination of internal growth and acquisitions, he managed the Company's growth from one location to its current 22 locations in 10 states and expected sales this year in excess of $700 million. From a small producer of ductile iron, Citation grew to one of the largest producers of aluminum, iron and steel castings, steel and aluminum investment castings, steel forgings and machined and assembled components for the capital and durable goods industries.
Citation became a public corporation in August 1994, when it held its initial public offering.
Mr. Hackney is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was President of the Hackney Corporation, a manufacturer of chain-link fencing products, prior to founding Citation. He is also Chairman of the Hackney Group, a private company.