Werner Co. Names James J. Loughlin Chief Executive Officer and Edward Gericke President



	Werner Co. Names James J. Loughlin, Jr. Chief Executive Officer and Edward Gericke President GREENVILLE, Pa., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Werner Co. announced today that James J. Loughlin, Jr. has been named Interim Chief Executive Officer and Edward Gericke has been named President. Mr. Loughlin has been closely involved with the company's restructuring efforts. His firm, Loughlin Meghji + Company, is advising Werner on its operational and financial restructuring. Mr. Gericke serves as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Werner Co. and will retain his current duties. Steven Richman, who has served as Werner Co.'s President and Chief Executive Officer, will leave the company to pursue another professional opportunity following the transition to the new team. Donald Werner, chairman of the Werner Co. Board of Directors, said: "The Werner Board of Directors is pleased that Jim and Ed will assume leadership of the company at this important time. Both Jim and Ed have the leadership skills, as well as the extensive knowledge of our business, our customers, and our products to navigate the company through its restructuring and positionWerner for continued growth and enhanced profitability. We have full confidence in the management team's ability to execute the company's strategy to become the low-cost producer of ladders and leverage the Werner brand to drive future growth." "We wish Steve Richman all the best and thank him for his service to Werner Co.," Mr. Werner concluded. Mr. Loughlin's appointment is subject to bankruptcy court approval and Mr. Gericke's appointment is effective immediately. More information about Werner's reorganization is available on the Company's website at www.wernerladder.com. About Werner Werner Co. is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of ladders, climbing equipment and ladder accessories. Backed by over 50 years of product innovation, Werner leads the industry with its commitment to the design and manufacture of quality products that meet or exceed applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) codes and standards for strength and structural integrity. Werner is headquartered in Greenville, Pennsylvania. About LM+Co Loughlin Meghji + Company is a financial advisory boutique, providing a focused range of services including financial and operational restructuring, interim management and strategic advisory services to troubled companies. The Firm has advised companies, lenders and investors in some of the nation's largest and most complex restructuring cases. LM+Co is based in New York and has 25 professionals.