June 1983 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Sullivan To Retire As President And CEO At Bath Iron Works

John F. Sullivan Jr., whose leadership over the past eight years helped establish Bath Iron Works (BIW) as one of the nation's premier shipbuilders, recently announced his decision to retire as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of BIW and vice president of the parent corporation, the Congoleum Corporation, effective July 1.

Mr. Sullivan has been chief executive officer of BIW since coming with the company in 1975.

BIW is the shipbuilding unit of Congoleum, the diversified manufacturing and distribution firm which also makes flooring and distributes automotive and industrial products.

Upon Mr. Sullivan's retirement, Eddy G. Nicholson, who is president of Congoleum, will assume the additional role of chairman of Bath Iron Works. William E.

Haggett, currently president and chief operating officer at BIW, will become president and chief executive officer of the shipyard.

Commenting on the retirement, Mr. Nicholson commended Mr. Sullivan for his able leadership during the past eight years.

"Under his guidance, Bath Iron Works has established itself as one of the nation's premier shipbuilders.

Current work backlogs and employment are at record peacetime levels, and the company has achieved an unequaled reputation for quality performance, ahead of schedule and under budgeted cost. Mr. Sullivan will be sorely missed, but thanks to the solid foundation he has laid, the prospects for Bath's future have never looked brighter." During the past eight years employment at BIW soared from 3,500 at the end of 1975 to more than 8,500 in 1982. During the same period, the shipyard's backlog rose from $125 million to over $1 billion, with the company's profitability increasing substantially.

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