Press Releases

5.30.07Frederick J. Lynch Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Masonite International

 

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 30, 2007 - Masonite International Inc. announced today that Frederick J. Lynch, 43, the company's President since July 2006, will assume the additional title of Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Kenneth W. Freeman will continue as Chairman of Masonite, a leading global manufacturer of residential and commercial doors.

"This is an orderly, well-planned transition, and the time is right," Mr. Freeman said in announcing the appointment. "Since joining Masonite as President, Fred Lynch has demonstrated the skills, vision and values that will enable him to be a great CEO for Masonite." He said that Mr. Lynch has accelerated progress in the areas of talent acquisition, customer satisfaction, manufacturing excellence, product innovation and employee engagement.

Mr. Lynch noted, "All of us at Masonite are indebted to Ken Freeman for setting the company on a course toward profitable growth and undisputed industry leadership. Our job now is to further accelerate our progress on that path to success. Having come to know the people of Masonite, I have absolute confidence that we will achieve this."

Mr. Lynch said the company has taken a number of steps to control costs, improve quality, expand the customer base and broaden the product line in positioning itself for a new period of growth when the North American home construction and repair, remodeling and renovation markets recover from the current downturn. At the same time, he said, "Masonite is moving aggressively to take advantage of significant growth opportunities in Europe and Asia."

Mr. Lynch began his career twenty one years ago as a chemical engineer at Allied Signal, worked his way up through manufacturing at Allied Signal and Honeywell, and eventually became vice president and general manager of the specialty chemicals division, with operations in North America and Europe. In 2003, he joined Alpharma Inc., a generic drug company, as senior vice president, and became President of Human Generics, a $900 million business with 3,000 employees in the United States, Europe, China and Indonesia.

Mr. Freeman, 56, is a Managing Director of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Company, and Executive Chairman of Accellent, Inc.  From 1996 to 2004 he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated.

Masonite is a leading global manufacturer of residential and commercial doors.  Masonite's employees are a dedicated team committed to providing the highest value door products to our customers in more than 70 countries around the world.