Chicago Pneumatic manager appointed president of Atlas Copco Portable Energy

Former Chicago Pneumatic manager Norbert Paprocki has been appointed president of Atlas Copco Portable Energy, succeeding Geert Follens who recently moved to Atlas Copco's Industrial Air division as president.

For the past six years Mr Paprocki - who takes up his new post on 15 July - has been president of the Chicago Pneumatic Tools division within the Atlas Copco Industrial Technique business area.

Mr Paprocki, a French national, has a background in industrial tools, starting in 1984 as a product manager at tool manufacturer Georges Renault in France, which was acquired by Atlas Copco in 1988.

After several sales manager positions in Europe, he moved to the US in 1996 as marketing manager for Chicago Pneumatic. In 1999 he returned to France as general manager of the Georges Renault business.

"Norbert is a proven strategic leader with broad international experience, from research and design to aftermarket business", said Nico Delvaux, business area president, Construction Technique.

"He has achieved good business results and has solid experience from mergers and acquisitions. I am very pleased to have him leading the team and heading further development of the Atlas Copco Portable Energy business".

Norbert Paprocki is a French citizen. He holds a master of science in mechanical Engineering from the University of Paris Raspail and an MBA from HEC Paris.

Portable Energy is a division within Atlas Copco's Construction Technique business area and sells portable compressors, high pressure boosters, pumps, lighting towers and generators.