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GenCorp Elects Nordson CEO to Board

12 May 1999

GenCorp Elects Nordson CEO to Board

    FAIRLAWN, Ohio, May 12 -- GenCorp , announced today
the election of Edward P. Campbell as Director.  Mr. Campbell is the President
and Chief Executive Officer of Nordson Corporation, a $700 million
international manufacturer of industrial application equipment headquartered
in Westlake, Ohio.  The election brings the number of GenCorp's directors to
11.
    "We are pleased to welcome Ed to GenCorp's board and look forward to the
extensive experience and insight he brings to all aspects of our business,
particularly in the areas of manufacturing, research and product development,
and domestic and international acquisition strategy," said Chairman and CEO
John Yasinsky.
    Mr. Campbell joined Nordson in 1988 as Vice President, responsible for
manufacturing, R&D, corporate development, human resources, information
systems and government affairs.  While in this position, he negotiated and
closed seven acquisitions in seven countries, which produced major gains in
sales and earnings.  In 1994, Mr. Campbell was named Chief Operating Officer
of Nordson, and in 1997, was appointed CEO.
    Prior to Nordson, Mr. Campbell held numerous management positions, with
increasing levels of responsibility since 1977 for BP America and The Standard
Oil Company.  He was the Director, Strategic Planning and Development for
Sohio Oil, and later served Sohio as Vice President, Retail Sales.  In 1986,
he was named Vice President, Acquisitions and Divestitures for Standard Oil,
where he led all aspects of a restructuring program involving the divestiture
of operating units valued at over $1 billion, and expansion of targeted
business segments by means of acquisition.  Later that same year, Mr. Campbell
was named Standard Oil's Vice President of Finance, responsible for all
aspects of this function, including financing and capital market transactions
that totaled more than $1 billion, management of a $1.5 billion investment
portfolio, and international finance.  In 1987, he became Vice President,
Finance of BP America, Inc.
    Mr. Campbell is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor
of Science degree in electrical engineering. He received his master's degree
in Business Administration from Harvard Graduate School.  He also served as a
Lieutenant and a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy.
    Currently, he serves as a Director of KeyCorp in Cleveland, Ohio, and is
the President of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Leadership in
Education in Elyria, Ohio.  He is also President of the Board of Trustees for
Nordson's charitable giving Corporate Foundation.
    A resident of Westlake, Mr. Campbell and wife, Sharon, are the parents of
two children.
    GenCorp is a $1.7 billion technology-based manufacturer with leading
positions in numerous markets served by its Performance Chemicals, Decorative
& Building Products and Vehicle Sealing businesses, and its aerospace and
defense segment, Aerojet.