Cooper Tire & Rubber Company's Patrick W. Rooney Announces Retirement
8 February 2000
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company's Patrick W. Rooney Announces Retirement; Thomas A. Dattilo to Succeed Rooney
FINDLAY, Ohio--Feb. 8, 2000--Cooper Tire & Rubber Company At the board meeting earlier today, Patrick W. Rooney, chairman and chief executive officer announced his intention to retire as of June 3, 2000. Mr. Rooney, who will be 65 in October, will leave his position in accordance with company policy which requires officers to retire at the age of 65. Thomas A. Dattilo will succeed Rooney as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer as of April 28, 2000.Pat Rooney began his career with Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1956 as a sales trainee. Net sales for the corporation in 1956 were $23.4 million. As reported earlier today, the company net sales for 1999 reached $2.2 billion. In 1958 Rooney became a territory sales representative and in 1960 was named manager of tread rubber sales. In 1965 he became general sales manager of the Cooper brand and was elected vice president in 1969. In 1984 he was named head of all tire sales and in 1987 was elected vice president-marketing for Cooper's tire operations.
Rooney was elected president of tire operations and a director of the company in 1990. In 1991 he was named president and chief operating officer. In October, 1994, he assumed the position of chairman, president and chief executive officer for the corporation. In January, 1999, he transferred the responsibilities of president to Tom Dattilo who also became chief operating officer at that time.
Dattilo joined Cooper Tire & Rubber Company as president and chief operating officer on January 4, 1999. In February, 1999 he was elected to the board of directors. Prior to joining Cooper, Dattilo spent more than 21 years in the automotive parts business with his latest position being president, sealing products for the Dana Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, one of the world's largest manufacturers of vehicular and engine components.
Mr. Dattilo's background includes a B.A. from The Ohio State University and a J.D. from The University of Toledo. He also completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He is a native of Akron, Ohio, a past chairman of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association and a member of numerous business organizations.
Commenting on Pat Rooney's pending retirement, Tom Dattilo said, "Pat's legacy transcends the industries in which we compete. He is a respected leader within the company and throughout the tire and automotive products industries. Pat's guidance during the last year has been critical in helping our company put the pieces in place to remain a strong global competitor throughout the 21st century. We will certainly miss Pat's leadership, determination and integrity, but these hallmarks have become a part of Cooper and will always continue," he concluded.
Company Description
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is headquartered in Findlay, Ohio and specializes in the manufacture and marketing of automotive products. Products for Cooper's tire group include automotive, motorcycle and truck tires, inner tubes, tread rubber and equipment. In the automotive group, Cooper is an original equipment supplier of sealing, trim, NVH control systems and fluid handling systems for the automotive industry in North America, Europe and South America. Other products for this group include rubber and plastic sealing components for the refrigeration industry in North America. Cooper has more than 25,000 employees and 74 manufacturing facilities in thirteen countries. For more information, visit the company's web site at: www.coopertire.com.
Editor's note. Photos of P.W. Rooney and T. A. Dattilo are available upon request by contacting: dacrow@coopertire.com., or by calling 419-427-4857.