Eastman Chemical appoints Stephen G. Crawford as SVP, CTO, effective Jan. 1, 2014, to succeed retiring Dr. Gregory W. Nelson; Crawford currently serving as VP, functional products technology

Allison Oesterle

KINGSPORT, Tennessee , November 11, 2013 (press release) – Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced the appointment of Stephen G. Crawford as senior vice president and chief technology officer, effective January 1, 2014. Crawford will succeed Dr. Gregory W. Nelson, who will remain with the company in a transitional role until his retirement March 1, 2014.

Mark J. Costa, President and CEO-designate said, “On behalf of Eastman’s executive leadership, I am pleased to welcome Steve to our team. During his time at Eastman, Steve has been out front leading customer- and technology-driven innovation, which is an important part of Eastman’s continued success. We are very fortunate to have someone of his caliber assume this important position.”

Crawford is currently Vice President, Functional Products Technology, with responsibility for coatings, adhesives and plasticizers and rubber additives technology development. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee. Crawford joined Eastman in 1987 and has held various positions of increased leadership responsibility in both Manufacturing and Technology. Recent positions have included Vice President of Polymers Technology and responsibility for Asia Pacific Technology.

Costa added, “We are very grateful to Greg for his many contributions to Eastman as CTO. Greg has fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration, resulting in significant growth of our innovation pipeline that will benefit Eastman for years to come. All of us at Eastman wish him well in his future endeavors.”

“It has been my honor to work at such a wonderful company as Eastman for these past 25 years,” said Nelson. “While I am excited about this next chapter of my life and look forward to new opportunities ahead, I will greatly miss all of my colleagues and the incredible culture at Eastman.”

Complete bios and photos available on request.
Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2012 pro forma combined revenues, giving effect to the Solutia acquisition, of approximately $9.1 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 14,000 people around the world. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.

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