HOUSTON, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/––Cooper Industries, Ltd. announced that it has appointed David J. Feldman as president of its Cooper Lighting division effective December 16, 2002.

Feldman, who will report to Kirk Hachigian, executive vice president, Operations, joins Cooper Lighting from Holcim (US) Inc., a $1.1 billion construction materials company located in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he has been senior vice president, Marketing & Sales, since 2001.

Prior to that, Feldman spent nearly 20 years with the General Electric Company, joining GE in 1980 as a sales engineer in GE Motors, later moving to regional manager for GE Supply and eventually rising to the position of vice president, North American Sales for GE Lighting. Feldman replaces R. Fritz Zeck, who is retiring after 26 years of service with the Company.

"Dave's broad background of commercial and operational expertise, as well as his experience in electrical products distribution and hands-on knowledge of Six Sigma Quality programs combine to make him a great fit to lead our Cooper Lighting business," said Kirk Hachigian. "Dave has the skill set to grow revenues and increase profitability for Cooper Lighting in this challenging and highly competitive market environment.

"Dave is an accomplished strategist who understands the importance of product positioning, customer service and quality in driving profitability and gaining market share," added Hachigian. "He will focus on the value inherent in our Cooper Connection program as a powerful platform for commercial differentiation. He will continue to showcase the benefits of Cooper Lighting's brands and assets in the larger framework of Cooper's five Electrical Products divisions and the unmatched benefits Cooper brings to its customers."

Feldman holds a BS degree in Industrial Economics from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. EC