PRESS RELEASE
Waukegan, Illinois – August 10, 2011 – WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS) announced today that Michael P. Rutz, 40, has been named Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain. The appointment is a key initiative in WMS’ realigned sourcing, production and distribution leadership intended to improve customer service, margins and overall quality. With over 16 years of broad experience at Motorola, including cross-functional collaboration to optimize supply chain/production networks, commercialize new product introductions and enhance supply chain metrics performance, Rutz brings significant expertise and leadership to drive the vision and execution in WMS’ supply chain, production and distribution functions to the next level. He is reporting to Ken Lochiatto, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WMS, and serves on the Company’s Executive Committee.
As Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain, Rutz will be responsible for developing, implementing and managing initiatives aimed at improving the Company’s manufacturing efficiency and product delivery. Among other items, he will oversee strategies that target significant improvements in internal supply chain execution and effectiveness to further improve the Company’s flexibility, reduce costs, improve quality and reduce inventory; improve the alignment between demand and supply through an enhanced cross-functional sales and operations planning process; and, improve the readiness and quality of new WMS products throughout the supply chain.
Rutz joins WMS following more than 16 years with Motorola Solutions, Inc., most recently as Vice President of Networks Supply Chain. In this position since 2009, Rutz led a 1,500 person global supply chain team for a $4 billion business unit of Motorola with responsibility for all supply chain functions. Under his leadership, his team significantly lowered overall cost structure, improved on-time delivery performance and made step-function improvements in supplier and manufacturing quality. Rutz joined Motorola in 1995 and has held positions of increasing responsibility in various engineering, production, product life cycle, new product sourcing and operations and supply chain management functions.
Ken Lochiatto commented, “Mike brings to WMS an unparalleled record of success in cross-functional collaboration that optimizes supply chain and production networks and the commercialization of new products and technology introductions. Mike’s many years of experience and expertise in addressing supply chain management challenges are allowing him to quickly build on process improvement initiatives recently put in place. We are confident that under his leadership, WMS will continue driving execution in our sourcing, production and distribution functions which will lead to enhanced customer service and improved margins.”
Mike Rutz commented on his appointment, “I am excited to be joining WMS as I am impressed by the organization’s culture of innovation and commitment to improve supply chain management functions which will play a significant role in differentiating and strengthening WMS in the market. I look forward to working with Ken and the entire organization as we implement and execute strategies that improve efficiencies across our global supply chain to drive continued growth while simultaneously ensuring our customers receive the leading quality and service they have come to expect from WMS.”
Rutz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Summa Cum Laude. As a Leaders for Manufacturing Fellow, he also earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Science degree in Management from the Sloan School at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About WMS
WMS is engaged in serving the gaming industry worldwide by designing, manufacturing and marketing games, video and mechanical reel-spinning gaming machines, video lottery terminals and in gaming operations, which consists of the placement of leased participation gaming machines in legal gaming venues. WMS is proactively addressing the next stage of casino gaming floor evolution with its WAGE-NET networked gaming solution, a suite of systems technologies and applications designed to increase customers’ revenue generating capabilities and operational efficiency. More information on WMS can be found at www.wms.comor visit the Company on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
