Brush Engineered Materials Inc. has promoted Richard J. Hipple, 52, to President and Chief Operating Officer.

In this newly formed role, Mr. Hipple has assumed executive management responsibility for all of the company's operating units including Alloy Products, Beryllium Products, Technical Materials, Inc. and Williams Advanced Materials Inc. He has served as President, Alloy Products, the largest operating group of Brush Wellman Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brush Engineered Materials Inc., since May 2002.

The position of President had previously been held by Gordon D. Harnett, who continues as Chairman and CEO. As Chairman and CEO, Mr. Harnett will retain senior executive leadership for the company and, in addition to Mr. Hipple, will continue to have the Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President of Administration reporting to him.

Brush Wellman Inc. announced two other key senior management appointments in conjunction with this promotion, including the promotion of Donald G. Klimkowicz, 50, to President, Alloy Products. Since April 2001, Mr. Klimkowicz has served as Vice President, Operations, for Alloy Products. As President, he assumes general management responsibilities for the Alloy group and reports to Richard J. Hipple.

Succeeding Mr. Klimkowicz as Vice President, Operations for Brush Wellman's Alloy Products group is Walter G. "Glenn" Maxwell, 45. Since January 2004, Mr. Maxwell has been Plant Manager of Brush Wellman's flagship manufacturing facility in Elmore, Ohio, and has held additional responsibilities as Director of the Bulk Products Value Stream. In his expanded new role, Mr. Maxwell will oversee all of the Alloy group's manufacturing operations in Elmore and Reading, Pa., as well as other domestic facilities.

Commenting on Mr. Hipple's promotion and the succession of other senior managers into broadened roles, Mr. Harnett said, "I am excited about the changes we're announcing today. Dick Hipple is an accomplished, proven leader and has the full support of our Board and management team. He is well suited to build on the momentum created throughout the organization over the past several years. His promotion, and the advancement of Don Klimkowicz and Glenn Maxwell demonstrate our company's management strength and depth. These appointments, complemented with the excellent management team in place elsewhere throughout Brush Engineered Materials, position the company for continuity and significant growth potential in the years to come."

Prior to being named President and COO of Brush Engineered Materials Inc., Richard J. Hipple was President, Alloy Products, the largest business group of Brush Wellman Inc. with 2004 sales of $202.9 million. He joined Brush Wellman in 2001 as Vice President, Alloy Strip Products.

Prior to joining the company, Mr. Hipple served as President of LTV Steel Corp. In his 26 years with this integrated steel producer, he advanced from a plant project engineer to positions of increased responsibility including strategic planning, supply chain management, operations, sales and marketing, and executive management. Mr. Hipple is a graduate of Drexel University with a bachelor of science degree in engineering.

Before being named as President, Alloy Products, Donald G. Klimkowicz had been Vice President, Operations for Alloy Products since April 2001. In that role, he has had senior management responsibility for the Alloy Products group's manufacturing facilities, which include operations in Elmore, Ohio, and Reading, Pa., as well as other domestic locations. At his direction, Alloy Products facilities have made significant progress in cost reduction, working capital management and quality improvement, owing in part to the implementation of Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

He had earlier served in general management, operating and engineering positions with ei3 Corporation, Avery Dennison Corp. and Diamond Shamrock Corp. He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Cleveland State University.

Prior to his appointment as Vice President, Operations for Brush Wellman's Alloy Products group, Walter G. Maxwell had, since January 2004, served as Plant Manager of the Elmore manufacturing facility and Director of the Bulk Products Value Stream at the Elmore and Lorain, Ohio, and the Reading, Pa., locations. He had held the Bulk Products Value Stream position since September 2003. Mr. Maxwell joined Brush Wellman in May 2001 as Strip Mill Manufacturing Manager of the Elmore plant.

He had previously worked for 20 years at LTV Steel Corp. with his most recent position as Manager of Finishing Operations for the Cleveland Works. Mr. Maxwell earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and also holds a master of science degree in management from Purdue University.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Brush Engineered Materials Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies worldwide markets with beryllium products, alloy products, electronic products, precious metal products, and engineered material systems. Brush Wellman Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brush Engineered Materials Inc.