Exide Technologies Appoints Ingersoll Rand Exec as President and Chief Executive Officer

Battery maker Exide Technologies has announced that James R. Bolch has been appointed president and chief executive officer.
The appointment takes effect July 26. Bolch will also join the Exide board of directors at that time. Bolch will succeed Gordon A. Ulsh, Exide’s current chief executive officer, who will retire and step down from the board on July 26. Ulsh, 64, who has served Exide in this leadership capacity since April of 2005, had previously informed the board of his intention to retire as part of the company’s long-term succession planning process.
Jim Bolch, 52, currently serves as senior vice president and president, Industrial Technologies Sector at Ingersoll Rand Company.
Ingersoll Rand is a global diversified industrial firm providing products and, services in a number of markets.
“The board of directors conducted a comprehensive review of a strong field of candidates and has the utmost confidence in Jim Bolch. He is the ideal leader for Exide, combining deep operational acumen with a proven track record of driving innovation and strategic growth,” said John P. Reilly, chairman of the board of Exide Technologies. “His broad expertise and insights will be instrumental in strengthening Exide’s position as an integrated global supplier of environmentally sound energy storage products and solutions for traditional and alternative energy markets – building on the successful model that Gordon Ulsh and his team have executed during the past five years.”
Jim Bolch brings to Exide a career spanning 29 years in global industrial businesses serving a variety of customer segments. Since 2005, he has led the $2.2 billion Industrial Technologies Sector of Ingersoll Rand, with multiple business lines and 25 global manufacturing sites, serving every part of the world through 10,000 employees. The sector’s businesses include air compressors, tools, materials handling, fluid handling and compact vehicles. In this role, Bolch drove operational improvements and implemented innovation processes to drive revenue growth and profitability for the business while increasing focus on customer satisfaction.
“I am honoured and proud to succeed Gordon Ulsh as president and chief executive officer of Exide Technologies. With its innovative technologies and rapidly expanding R&D and Engineering initiatives, technology partnerships, a growing service business and the right mix of people, processes and products, Exide is well positioned to accelerate its growth in today’s dynamic and challenging marketplace,” said Bolch. “I look forward to leading Exide and its 10,000 employees worldwide. Together, we will continue driving the company forward – providing customers with distinctive technological advances and solutions that can improve their businesses while strengthening Exide for all of its stakeholders.”

Further information about Exide, including its financial results, are available at www.exide.com.

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