The Cary Co., Addison, Ill., a longtime Midwest distributor of raw materials to the coatings industry, recently expanded its management group by naming Thomas Bennett to the newly formed position of marketing and technical manager. Brian Ehlert, formerly sales manager for Resolution Performance Products, has rejoined Cary as sales manager. Cathy Hoffman, formerly of Pargreen Sales, has also joined the sales group.

Clariant, a global leader in the field of specialty chemicals, has appointed John Clarke as head of region for the Pigments & Additives Division in North America. Clarke joined Clariant in 1984 in Ireland and has since gained experience with several of the company's divisions. For the past four years, Clarke has been head of Masterbatches' NAFTA Region.

The board of directors of The Valspar Corp. has announced that William L. Mansfield, currently Valspar's chief operating officer, has succeeded Richard M. Rompala as president and chief executive officer. Rompala will continue as chairman of the board.

Maroon, Inc., a privately held specialty chemical distributor based in Avon, Ohio, has appointed Michael F. McKenna to business development manager. McKenna will oversee Maroon's customer service, logistics and marketing functions. McKenna most recently served as the North American sales manager for Johnson Matthey Pigments and Dispersions.

Dr. Frithjof Netzer has been appointed business director for BASF's Acrylic Monomers and Superabsorbents businesses in North and South America. Netzer joined BASF in the Coatings Division in Münster, Germany, in 1999, serving as manager, planning and controlling. Subsequently, he held positions as executive assistant to the BASF chairman in North America and business director for BASF's Acrylic Monomers business.

Moyno has appointed Keith M. Peterson to VP Sales and Marketing, and David A. Doty to national sales manager. Peterson will be responsible for the overall management of sales and marketing functions. Doty will be responsible for industrial and municipal sales activities for North America as well as all regional sales managers.

David D. Vranesich has joined Red Spot Paint & Varnish Co. as vice president of sales. The Detroit-area native was previously sales director, Americas, of Ticona. The company also announced the promotion of George Lord to vice president of operations. He will be responsible for manufacturing and related operations at Red Spot's two manufacturing facilities in Evansville, Ind., and Westland, Mich.

Maureen Waite, Sartomer Co., received the fifth annual RadTech President's Award at the RadTech Winter Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. Waite, chair of the RadTech Environmental Health and Safety Committee, was recognized for her efforts in the development of a new RadTech health and safety video.

Ultra Additives, Inc., Bloomfield, N.J., has appointed Robert Whiteley to the newly created position of vice president, global sales and marketing. Whiteley is accountable for paints, coatings, inks, adhesives and building products, as well as Münzing Group additives in the Americas, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Whiteley is currently president of the Metropolitan New York Paint and Coatings Assn.