Maytag Corporation Creates Separate Appliance Services Business Unit

Maytag Corporation Creates Separate Appliance Services Business Unit

		MAYTAG LOGO Maytag Corporation is a leading producer of home and commercial appliances. Its products are sold to customers throughout North America and in international markets. (PRNewsFoto)[TC] NEWTON, IA USA

Learmonth Appointed President, Maytag Services NEWTON, Iowa, March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Maytag Corporation (NYSE: MYG) today announced that its Maytag Services consumer in-home appliance repair operation will become a separate business unit within the company. The newly formed Maytag Services business unit remains part of the Corporation's Major Appliances financial reporting segment, along with Maytag Appliances and Maytag International. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000505/MYGLOGO ) Arthur B. Learmonth, formerly Maytag Appliances' senior vice president supply chain, has been promoted to lead the new unit as president of Maytag Services, effective April 1. Learmonth will report to Ralph Hake, Maytag chairman and CEO. Last year, Maytag announced the formation of Maytag Services to provide repair and maintenance services to Maytag brand appliances, as well as other major appliance brands. Since then, Maytag Services has expanded this service into select markets nationwide. "We view Maytag Services as a significant opportunity for the company to extend its brand and reputation for dependability by providing consumers with a quality service alternative," said Hake. "Consumers today have fewer appliance service options. By making Maytag Services a separate business unit, we're affirming our strategy to become a growth-oriented services business for Maytag-branded appliances and other major appliance brands." Maytag Services' new leader, Art Learmonth, has worked extensively in lean manufacturing. In 1997, he joined Maytag Appliances as vice president manufacturing and engineering, before taking on the role of senior vice president, supply chain in Maytag Appliances during 2003, leading the company's LeanSigma(R) journey in transforming its major appliance product development and manufacturing processes. "Art's experience in lean methodology will be extremely important in leading Maytag Services in his new role as president," Hake commented. With this change, Steven D. Benton, the current vice president and general manager of Maytag Services, has been named Maytag's vice president of strategic alliance development, effective April 1, reporting to Roger Scholten, senior vice president and general counsel. Benton will use his 30 years of Maytag experience to support the company's strategic alliances, OEM development and other business opportunities. He has held leadership positions within Maytag Appliances, regional operations and marketing, and corporate development, where he successfully led the integration of Amana into the Maytag family of brands. "Over the past year, Steve has led Maytag Services to this critical point, allowing us to make it a separate business unit," Hake said. "Maytag is now going to benefit from Steve's experience to contribute to continued growth opportunities for our company." Maytag Corporation is a leading producer of home and commercial appliances with 12 manufacturing facilities in the United States. Its products are sold to customers in the United States and in international markets. The corporation's principal brands include Maytag(R), Amana(R), Jenn-Air(R), Jade(R), Hoover(R) and Dixie-Narco(R).