NEW YORK–Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today that Dr. Ray Kilmer, currently Vice
President, Technology Development and Deployment, has been appointed
Chief Technology Officer, succeeding Dr. Mohammad Zaidi, who has elected
to retire. Dr. Kilmer will become a member of Alcoa’s Executive Council
and will be recommended to be elected an officer of the company by
Alcoa’s Board of Directors.
In his new role, Dr. Kilmer will lead Alcoa’s global technology team,
building on Dr. Zaidi’s work to transform the Alcoa Technical Center
(ATC) into an innovation platform and accelerate commercialization of
technology developed within Alcoa’s businesses.
Dr. Zaidi will retire August 1, after 26 successful years at Alcoa.
“Mohammad is an innovation pioneer whose technological achievements over
the past quarter century laid a strong foundation for the future of
Alcoa’s manufacturing base,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and
CEO. “His technology leadership created new applications for aluminum,
opening markets and leading to the widespread acknowledgement of
aluminum as today’s ‘miracle metal.’
“Today, technology truly is Alcoa’s strength. I look forward to working
with Ray to drive the use of aluminum into new frontiers that will
produce lighter, stronger vehicles, higher-performance electronics,
innovative, infinitely recyclable packaging and many other applications
that will hugely benefit our customers and their customers.”
Joining Alcoa in 1998 as the Manager of the Brazing Sheet Development
Factory, Dr. Kilmer held several commercial roles before rising to
Global Commercial Director of Alcoa’s Automotive Flat Rolled Products
business. In Dr. Kilmer’s recent assignment as Vice President of Global
Rolled Products Technology and Engineering, he led Alcoa’s Molten Metal
Technology and Rolling Technology Groups, the Product Development
Groups, including the Package Technology Group that developed the shaped
aluminum bottle; and Coatings Technology Group. Dr. Kilmer also played
an instrumental role in the development of Alcoa’s Ma’aden joint venture
in Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Kilmer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from
Purdue University, and a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Materials Science
from the University of Virginia.
Dr. Zaidi joined Alcoa in 1985 as a senior engineer and rose quickly
through Alcoa’s ranks, leading significant innovations such as the
development of the aluminum space frame for the Audi A8 in 1991, and
later the Ferrari Modena. In 1998, Dr. Zaidi was appointed Director of
Technology for worldwide automotive and extrusions businesses and in
2001 became President of Alcoa Automotive’s Fabrication and Assembly
business and Chief Operating Officer of Alcoa Automotive Castings, with
operations in the U.S. and Europe. Since 2003, Dr. Zaidi has served as
Chief Technical Officer, a Vice President of the company, and a member
of the Executive Council. In 2006, he earned the rank of Executive Vice
President and CTO.
As Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Zaidi spearheaded Alcoa’s expansion
into new markets such as Defense, Consumer Electronics, and Oil and Gas
that today are key growth markets for aluminum, and pioneered multiple
breakthrough processes in the aluminum industry. Dr. Zaidi has authored
numerous papers and articles in scientific journals and books, and
served as chairman of Vision 2050, a project of the World Business
Council for Sustainable Development. Dr. Zaidi is also a past recipient
of the Arthur Vining Davis Award.
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world’s leading producer
of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner
of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the
modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major
milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and
construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and
industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa
markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings,
as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment
castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other
light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys.
Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and
the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has
been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for nine consecutive
years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced
since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately
59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be
found at www.alcoa.com.