RPM appoints Thomas Gross to its board of directors

RPM International Inc. has appointed Thomas Gross to its board of directors to replace Donald Miller, who is retiring after 40 years of service. Gross will complete Miller’s term as a Class II member of the RPM board and serve on the audit committee. His term will expire on October 4, 2012, at which time he will stand for reelection to the board by RPM’s stockholders at the company’s annual meeting.

Gross is vice chairman and chief operating officer for the Electrical Sector of Eaton Corporation, a $16 billion global diversified power management company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. He joined Eaton in 2003 as vice president, Eaton Business System, and most recently served as president of its power quality and controls business. Prior to joining Eaton, Gross held various executive leadership positions of increasing responsibility with Danaher Corporation, Xycom Automation and Rockwell Automation. He earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Wisconsin and a master of business administration degree from the University of Michigan. He currently serves on the board of governors of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

Miller is chairman of Axiom International Investors LLC, an international equity asset management firm, a role he has held since 1999. Previously, he held board and executive management positions with Greylock Financial Inc., a venture capital firm; Thomson Advisory Group L.P., a money management firm; PIMCO Advisors L.P., a global investment management firm; and Layne Christensen Company, a successor corporation to Christensen Boyles Corporation, a supplier of mining products and services. Miller received a bachelor of science degree from Cornell University and a master of business administration degree from Harvard University.