Management Biographies 24 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. Gregg S. Piontek, VP & CFO: Joined Newpark in April 2007 and served as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from April 2007 to October 2011. Prior to joining Newpark, Mr. Piontek was Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Stewart & Stevenson LLC from 2006 to 2007, where he served as the lead executive financial officer for the asset acquisition from Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. and $150 million public debt offering. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Piontek held the positions of Assistant Corporate Controller and Division Controller for Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Piontek served in various financials roles at General Electric and CNH Global N.V., after beginning his career as an auditor for Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Piontek is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor degree in Accountancy from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette University. Mark J. Airola, Sr. VP, GC & Admin Officer: Mark joined Newpark in October 2006 as its Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer. Mr. Airola was named Senior Vice President in February of 2011. 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. |