Ian G.Collins to head world’s largest wallpaper business

COLUMBUS, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 26, 1995–Borden, Inc. today announced the promotion of Ian G. Collins to Group Vice President, Worldwide Decorative Products, effective May 15. Mr. Collins, currently Chief Executive of the Borden European Wallpaper Group based in Darwen, England, succeeds Sumner S. Feinstein, who recently announced his decision to retire.

The Borden Worldwide Decorative Products Group accounted for 1994 sales in excess of $400 million. It includes wallcovering operations in the United States, Canada, England and Germany, as well as the U.S. production of decorative printed materials for laminate overlays.

“Ian Collins has been instrumental in the successful consolidation and growth of our European Wallpaper Group,” said Joseph M. Saggese, Executive Vice President of Borden and President of its Worldwide Packaging and Industrial Products sector. “We look forward to seeing his broad expertise brought to our entire decorative products operation as we solidify and build upon recent marketing and technical advances.”

Under Mr. Collins’ direction, the U.K. wallcoverings unit has achieved a 30 percent sales increase and earned the ISO 9001 quality control certification in design, manufacturing and distribution. In 1993, Borden’s Transprint unit in Morecambe, U.K., won the prestigious Queen’s Award to Industry for excellence in export.

Mr. Collins, 47, will maintain his headquarters at Darwen, as well as an office at Borden corporate headquarters in Columbus.He started his career in 1969 as a Management Trainee with the Crown Wallcoverings unit of Reed International, which Borden acquired in 1985. He rose steadily through a series of manufacturing positions with Crown, becoming Operations Director in 1983, and was promoted in 1986 to Managing Director. He left Borden in 1988 to head Antler PLC (a British manufacturer of travel goods), returning in 1990 in his current capacity.

Mr. Collins holds an M.A. in engineering from St. Peter’s College, Oxford University.

The Borden Worldwide Decorative Products Group manufactures and markets wallpapers for a full range of trade channels — from traditional paint and wallpaper stores and decorating centers to mass merchandisers and home centers.

Among the company’s leading retail brands are Wall-Tex, Sunworthy, Borden Home Wallcoverings, Crown, Borges, Shand Kydd, Bob Mitchell Designs, James Seeman Studios, Birge, Foremost and Westmount. Wallcoverings for the commercial and industrial markets are sold primarily under the Satinesque and Guard brands.

The Group’s decorative surfacing products are used for simulated wood furniture, flooring, audio/video equipment, kitchen cabinets and other applications.

These were the good days !!!