VDL votes for new president

During their annual general assembly on May 7, the members of VDL, the German leather federation, voted in a new president for the next three years. Outgoing president, Maximilian Räuchle stepped down after two terms and Thomas Strebost, managing director and owner of fourth-generation Heller-Leder took over. Heller have 200 employees and produce mostly upholstery leather for furniture and automotive purposes. Christoph Breuninger, Hammann Leder, and Maximilian Räuchle were elected as vice presidents. Outgoing vice president Johann Rendenbach invited all participants to visit his traditional vegetable sole leather tannery in Trier where all hides are pit soaked with oak bark for a minimum of nine months. Rohm and Haas Company shareholders have elected Gary L Rogers to their board. Rogers was most recently vice-chairman of General Electric Company from 2001 until his retirement in December, 2003. Previously, he served as senior vice-president of General Electric Company and president and chief executive officer of GE Plastics from 1992 to 2001. Rogers was one of fourteen members of the board elected at the annual shareholders' meeting. John A McArthur, a director of the company since 1977, has reached the age of 70 and, in accordance with the company's corporate policy, did not stand for re-election.