Columbian Chemicals Names Lester Tyra Vice President Sales for North America

Columbian Chemicals today announced that Lester Tyra has been promoted to Vice President Sales - North America. Mr. Tyra has 13 years of experience with Columbian and most recently was Marketing Manager for Industrial Carbon Blacks in the Americas.

“Lester brings a strong technical background and eight years of experience working with customers in marketing and sales roles,” said Columbian President James P. Berresse. “That combination of experience will enable Lester to help drive our goal of becoming a value-based organization that strives to understand fully our customers` needs and provide them with solutions to succeed in the marketplace.”

In addition to overseeing the North American Sales function, he also has responsibility for Columbian`s Customer Service group in North America.

Mr. Tyra joined Columbian in 1989 as a R&D Process Engineer at the company`s former laboratory in Swartz, Louisiana. He also has experience as a Process Scientist, Technical Sales Representative and a Regional Sales Manager.

Mr. Tyra holds a bachelor`s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Northeast Louisiana University.

Columbian Chemicals is one of the world`s leading producers of carbon black – an engineered material that improves the strength, durability and overall performance of a range of products including tires and other mechanical rubber goods, as well as inks, paints, plastics and coatings.

Based in Marietta, Georgia, Columbian Chemicals is a subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Corp., the world`s second-largest copper company. Columbian Chemicals owns and operates 12 carbon black manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Spain and the United States.

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