When Craig Shular became CEO of GrafTech International Ltd. in 2003, he did so at a time when the company was significantly burdened by Justice Department fines and customer settlements arising from the actions of former management and a late-1990s international graphite electrode price-fixing scandal.
As a result, the company was in a severe financial situation
with a weak balance sheet and a negative cash flow. To save
the company, Shular, chairman and CEO of the graphite material science company, had to make tough decisions that included internal efforts, such as the reform of worldwide pension
and benefit plans and a global reorganization.
Shular’s commitment and leadership was unwavering with a
focus on ethics, values, consistency and open communication.
Shular did not ask employees to accept a change that he would
not first accept himself. That meant flying in coach for 20 hours
or giving up all executive benefits. Through Shular’s leadership, the company has posted eight consecutive quarters of
positive cash flow and earnings growth. In 2007, GrafTech was
number 13 in the Wall Street Journal listing of best-performing
stocks with a 156 percent return.
Shular also takes an interest in the community. When
GrafTech relocated its company headquarters to Parma in 2006,
Shular searched out opportunities for the company to become
a leader in the Cleveland area. The first effort was a recommitment to the United Way. In the 2006 campaign, GrafTech’s combined employee/employer contributions increased by 63.5 percent and the number of leadership contributions went from one
to 10.
Shular’s true passion has been his adoption of Cleveland’s
East Technical High School as a community partner. The company’s involvement began with sponsorship of the school’s
first robotics team and grew to include the very first Junior
Achievement program at the school, a Christmas food drive
and a summer internship program.
HOW TO REACH: GrafTech International Ltd., www.graftech.com or (216) 676-2000