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PHILADELPHIA, March 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Cork & Seal Company, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced that William J. Freeman will join the Company in the newly created position of Vice President - Strategic Marketing and Planning. He will report directly to John W. Conway, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

In this new position, Mr. Freeman will be responsible for assisting ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø's three operating divisions (Americas, Europe and Asia), as well as their business units, to develop, implement and sustain their strategic growth and marketing initiatives. Additionally, he will be part of the Company's senior management team responsible for overall business strategy.

Mr. Freeman has provided consulting services on marketing and sales strategy to ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø's North American businesses since August 2001. Prior to that role, he held positions of increasing responsibility for over 28 years in corporate planning, marketing and sales with Alcoa, Inc. in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Most recently he served as Vice President Marketing for Alcoa's Rigid Packaging Division, one of Alcoa's largest global businesses. Mr. Freeman was also a Director of Alcoa's joint ventures with KOBE Steel (Japan) -- KAAL Japan, KAAL Asia and KAAL Australia, and of Alcoa's European Rigid Packaging business.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Conway stated, "We are extremely pleased to have Bill join our senior management team. Based on his proven abilities, we are confident his industry knowledge, as well as his business experience and sound judgment, will be a valuable addition to ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Cork & Seal."

Earlier in his career Mr. Freeman worked for Johnson & Johnson as a Corporate Systems Analyst. He also served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

He received his B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Rutgers University and has completed additional postgraduate work in International Business at Florida International University.

³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Cork & Seal is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

SOURCE ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
Web site:
CONTACT: Michael F. Dunleavy, Vice President - Corporate Affairs & Public Relations of ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Cork & Seal Company, +1-215-698-5051; or Ed Bisno of Edelman Financial, +1-212-704-8212, for ³Ô¹Ï51±¬ÁÏÍø Cork & Seal Company