WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Airgas, Inc. (ARG) announced that its founder Peter McCausland will assume the role of executive chairman of the Board of Directors and current executive vice president and chief operating officer Michael Molinini will succeed him as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately following the company's 2012 annual meeting of stockholders scheduled to be held in mid-August.
The company noted that as part of the leadership transition, its board of directors has unanimously elected Molinini to serve as a director of the company, effective immediately, expanding the Board to eleven directors. Molinini will stand for re-election to the Board at the company's 2012 annual meeting. In his expanded role, Molinini will continue to lead the company's operations and information technology initiatives, while also assuming responsibility for finance and human resources.
McCausland will continue to lead the development of Airgas' growth strategies. Besides, McCausland will continue to serve as chairman of the company's Management Committee and will retain responsibility for corporate development, risk management and governance.
Separately, Airgas announced that the board of directors increased the quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock by 25%, from $0.32 per share to $0.40 per share. The dividend will be payable on June 29, 2012 to shareholders of record as of June 15, 2012.
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© 2012 AFX News
