Management Biographies 23 Paul L. Howes, President & CEO: Paul joined Newpark's Board of Directors and was appointed its Chief Executive Officer in March 2006. In June 2006, Mr. Howes also was appointed as Newpark's President. Mr. Howes' career has included experience in the defense industry, chemicals and plastics manufacturing, and the packaging industry. From 2002 until October 2005, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Astaris LLC, a primary chemicals company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with operations in North America, Europe and South America. Prior to this, from 1997 until 2002, he served as Vice President and General Manager, Packaging Division, for Flint Ink Corporation, a global ink company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan with operations in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. James E. Braun, VP & CFO: Jim joined Newpark in October 2006 as its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining Newpark, since 2002, Mr. Braun was Vice President, Finance, of Baker Oil Tools, one of the largest divisions of Baker Hughes Incorporated, a leading provider of drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry. From 1998 until 2002, Mr. Braun was Vice President, Finance and Administration, of Baker Petrolite, the oilfield specialty chemical business division of Baker Hughes Incorporated. Previously, he served as Vice President and Controller of Baker Hughes Incorporated, and he was with Deloitte & Touche prior to joining Baker Hughes Incorporated. Mark J. Airola, GC & Admin Officer: Mark joined Newpark in October 2006 as its Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer. Mr. Airola has practiced law for 22 years, primarily with large, publicly traded companies. Most recently, Mr. Airola was Assistant General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for BJ Services Company, a leading provider of pressure pumping and other oilfield services to the petroleum industry, serving as an executive officer since 2003. From 1988 to 1995, he held the position of Senior Litigation Counsel at Cooper Industries, Inc., a global manufacturer of electrical products and tools, with initial responsibility for managing environmental regulatory matters and litigation and subsequently managing the company's commercial litigation. |