Actuant Announces Executive Appointments

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Actuant Corporation today announced the following executive appointments: David Scheer as Executive Vice President, Electrical Segment, William Axline as Executive Vice President, Global Customer Relationships and Varun Vijay Rao as India Country Leader.

Scheer brings extensive retail, electrical wholesale and general management experience into the Electrical Segment gained from a variety of diverse roles. Most recently, he was COO of the GranQuartz division of Pearlman Enterprises, a premier distributor of stone tools, equipment and supplies. Prior to that, he was COO of Sigma Electric Manufacturing, President of Rexel’s Southeast Division and held management positions in Thomas & Betts and Electroline Manufacturing. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Economics and received an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace in Cleveland.

Axline transitions from the Electrical Segment role into this newly created position leading Actuant’s global customer relationship initiative. As part of Growth + Innovation, he will leverage the broad range of products and services in the portfolio, working across the businesses to build higher level global customer relationships and leverage common customer and market positions on a worldwide basis.

Rao joins Actuant from Arvin Meritor (now called Inteva Products), where he was Managing Director of their Light Vehicles Systems business in India. Prior to that, he held various management roles including product management, worldwide marketing management, and corporate development & strategy in both the United States and India. His career history also includes experience with Cummins Inc. as well as several smaller global firms. He graduated from Elon College in North Carolina with a BS in Mathematics and Physics, and received his MS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State. In this newly created role, Rao will work closely with the businesses and segments to develop and execute growth strategies and align the India team with the strategic vision of Actuant.

Mark Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer of Actuant stated, “I am pleased to welcome David and Varun to Actuant and to have Bill lead this critical Growth + Innovation role. All of these executives have a demonstrated history of building strong customer relationships and motivated business teams, driving sales growth, executing continuous improvement initiatives and improving profitability. I am confident that they will make instrumental contributions as we continue to build a premier global enterprise.”

About Actuant

Actuant Corporation is a diversified industrial company with operations in more than 30 countries. The Actuant businesses are leaders in a broad array of niche markets including branded hydraulic and electrical tools and supplies; specialized products and services for energy markets and highly engineered position and motion control systems. The Company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Actuant trades on the NYSE under the symbol ATU. For further information on Actuant and its businesses, visit the Company's website at www.actuant.com.

Actuant Corporation
Karen Bauer
Communications & Investor Relations Leader
262-293-1562

Source: Actuant Corporation

Released September 8, 2011