Praxair Inc.

Retired Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Former President, Sigma Group of America (a consulting company) from 1992 to 2005. Mr. Watson was President & Chief Executive Officer of ROLM Company (a telecommunications joint venture of IBM and Siemens AG) from 1989 to 1992. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Marketing for IBM. Mr. Watson also is a director of Community Health Systems, Inc., chairman-emeritus of Helen Keller International, and chairman of the Brevard Music Center.

Chief Executive Officer of Praxair, Inc. since January 1, 2007, and Chairman since May 1, 2007. Before becoming the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Angel served as President & Chief Operating Officer since March 1, 2006, and served as Executive Vice President from 2001 to 2006. Prior to joining Praxair in 2001, Mr. Angel was General Manager for the General Electric Company Industrial Systems Power Equipment business from 1999 to 2001, and was General Manager, Marketing and Sales, for GE’s Transportation Systems business from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Angel is on the Board of the U.S.-China Business Council and the Business Roundtable. He is a member of the board of the American Chemistry Council.

Domingos Bulus was named president of Praxair South America in 2003, responsible for Praxair’s business in nine countries. Bulus joined Praxair’s Brazil-based subsidiary, White Martins, in 1984 as a production engineer, and subsequently held supervisory and managerial positions in the industrial gases applications group. In 1990 he was named manager of the Belo Horizonte region in Brazil, and two years later became manager of the Brazilian central region. In 1995 he became general manager in Colombia, and the following year was named executive director of the Andean Treaty region (Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela). He moved to Singapore as president of Praxair Asia in 2001. A native of Brazil, Bulus earned a mechanical engineering degree from Gama Filho University, Rio de Janeiro, and a master’s degree in human resources from Amana Key, Sao Paulo. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Eduardo Menezes was appointed president of Praxair Europe in 2007. He is responsible for the growth, profitability and return on capital of Praxair’s businesses in Spain, Germany, Italy, Benelux, France and Portugal. Menezes joined the company in 1986 as an equipment engineer at S.A. White Martins, a Praxair subsidiary based in Brazil. After holding positions in the on-site business group, he was named marketing manager for process gases systems in 1991. Two years later, he became national marketing and sales manager for the chemical and refining industries. In 1995 he transferred to Tonawanda, New York, as worldwide business manager for gasification and worldwide plant sales in Praxair’s Global Supply Systems organization. In 1998 he was appointed president, Praxair Puerto Rico, and in 2000 he became vice president, U.S. West Region, for North American Industrial Gases. In 2003, he was named vice president and general manager-U.S. for Praxair Distribution, Inc., a cylinder-gases subsidiary. He became managing director of Praxair’s business in Mexico in 2004. Menezes holds a chemical engineering degree from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and a master’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York.

George Ristevski was named president, Praxair Distribution, Inc., in 2007, responsible for Praxair’s cylinder-gases business in the U.S. and Canada. Ristevski joined Praxair in 1995 as director, corporate financial planning and analysis, responsible for evaluation of the performance of worldwide business units, project-based support, and financial analysis. In 1997 he transferred as finance director to Praxair Distribution, and was named vice president and controller for Praxair, Inc. in 2000. Since 2002, he has been president of Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. He has a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Brown University and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Jim Fuchs became a senior vice president of Praxair, Inc. in 2006. He also is president of North American Industrial Gases, Praxair's largest business unit, and president of Praxair Canada, positions he has held since 2001. Fuchs joined the company in 1974 as technical sales representative in Toronto, Canada. He became a product manager in 1977 before being named area sales manager in 1980. Following assignments as business manager for oil field services; region manager, Western Canada; and general sales manager, he was appointed business manager for industrial gases in 1988. He became general manager, On-Site Business, in 1994 for the U.S. and was named managing director, Industrial Gases, Canada in 1995. He moved to Asia in 1996 as vice president, Praxair Asia, and was appointed president, Praxair Asia, in 1998. Fuchs is chairman of the U.S. Compressed Gas Association and a member of the board of the National Association of Manufacturers. A native of Regina, Canada, Fuchs earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Joe Cappello was named president of Praxair Asia in 2008. He is responsible for the growth and profitability of Praxair’s businesses in China, India, South Korea and Thailand. Cappello joined Praxair in 1996 as director of investor relations and was named director, carbon dioxide, in 1999. In 2001 he assumed responsibility for the global helium and rare gases business and subsequently led the Praxair Services and AMKO businesses. He was named vice president, Business Management, for North American Industrial Gases in 2006, responsible for product management and pricing in the merchant market, on-site product management, competitor swaps and carbon dioxide sourcing. Cappello earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Montclair State College.

Mark Gruninger was named president of Praxair Surface Technologies, a global supplier of high-performance surface coatings, in 2006. Gruninger joined Praxair Surface Technologies in 1987 as a senior project engineer and led engineering and technology programs in advanced materials. He subsequently held positions as associate technology director, business manager for polishing products and vice president, Specialty Products. In 2002, he was appointed vice president of Praxair Electronics, with global responsibility for products and services supplied to the semiconductor industry. He became vice president, South Region, for the North American Industrial Gases business unit in 2005, responsible for Praxair’s business in a seven-state region which includes the company’s largest pipeline complex, along the Texas Gulf Coast A native of Martinsville, New Jersey, Gruninger earned bachelor’s, master's and doctorate degrees in ceramic engineering from Rutgers University. He also holds a master's of science degree in management from Purdue University. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com

Murray Covello was appointed vice president, Global Operations Excellence and Development, in 2008. He is responsible for Praxair’s procurement, safety and health, environment, global productivity improvement, and sustainable development functions. Covello joined the company in 1981 as a project/process engineer in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and became a customer service engineer in 1985. Following assignments in engineering, customer service, operations management and business analysis, he joined the on-site team in 1993 was named national sales/business manager for the on-site business in 1998. In 1999, he was named managing director for Praxair Canada. He transferred to the U.S. as vice president, Operations & Services, for North American Industrial Gases in 2002. In 2005, he moved to Shanghai as president of Praxair Asia. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Covello earned a bachelor’s degree in applied science in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in business administration from York University. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Jim Sawyer became executive vice president and chief financial officer of Praxair, Inc. in 2006. He had been senior vice president and chief financial officer since 2003. He is responsible for the company’s finance, audit, treasury, accounting, tax, information technology and investor relations functions. He also oversees Praxair Surface Technologies, a subsidiary that produces high-performance coatings for the aircraft-engine and other markets. Sawyer joined the company in 1985 and became assistant treasurer the following year. In 1986, he was named manager of capital markets planning and three years later became area treasurer for Europe. He was appointed assistant treasurer for Praxair in 1992, vice president and treasurer in 1994, and vice president and chief financial officer in 2000. A native of Greenwich, Connecticut, Sawyer holds a bachelor of science degree in geology and environmental sciences from Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in business administration from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Conference Board’s Senior Financial Officers Council and the Financial Executives Institute. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Jim Fuchs became a senior vice president of Praxair, Inc. in 2006. He also is president of North American Industrial Gases, Praxair's largest business unit, and president of Praxair Canada, positions he has held since 2001. Fuchs joined the company in 1974 as technical sales representative in Toronto, Canada. He became a product manager in 1977 before being named area sales manager in 1980. Following assignments as business manager for oil field services; region manager, Western Canada; and general sales manager, he was appointed business manager for industrial gases in 1988. He became general manager, On-Site Business, in 1994 for the U.S. and was named managing director, Industrial Gases, Canada in 1995. He moved to Asia in 1996 as vice president, Praxair Asia, and was appointed president, Praxair Asia, in 1998. Fuchs is chairman of the U.S. Compressed Gas Association and a member of the board of the National Association of Manufacturers. A native of Regina, Canada, Fuchs earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Ricardo Malfitano was appointed executive vice president of Praxair in 2006. He is responsible for Praxair’s businesses in South America and Asia as well as for the electronics and healthcare businesses and the company’s packaged gases business in the U.S. and Canada. He also provides leadership for safety and environmental compliance, Global Operational Excellence, Global Supply Systems and Procurement. Malfitano joined White Martins, Praxair’s Brazil-based subsidiary, in 1978 and held a variety of positions before being named division manager, Medical Gases, in 1989 and then general manager, Industrial Gases, in 1992. He transferred to Praxair’s headquarters in the U.S. in 1993 to lead a reengineering effort aimed at improving Praxair's sales and marketing effectiveness. In 1994 he was named director of the global semiconductor materials business. Two years later he returned to Brazil as executive director, Industrial Gases. He moved back to the U.S. in 1998 as president, North American Industrial Gases, Praxair’s largest business unit. In 2001 Malfitano was appointed chief executive officer of White Martins, and president, Praxair South America. He became senior vice president of Praxair, Inc. in 2003. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Malfitano earned a degree in metallurgical engineering from Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Dan Yankowski was named vice president, Global Supply Systems, in 2005. He is responsible for the design, construction and supply of plants and systems that produce atmospheric and process gases to Praxair regional businesses worldwide, and for sale of equipment to third parties. Yankowski began his career with the company as a plant engineer in 1980. Following assignments in production and customer service, he was named plant manager in Alabama in 1989. Two years later, he became on-site business/sales manager in Houston, Texas, and, in 1995, was named project business manager in the Equipment and Engineering Services group in Tonawanda, New York. He transferred to Rio de Janeiro as executive director, engineering, in 1996, and assumed the position of vice president, global process gases, back in Tonawanda in 1998. Following an assignment as global vice president, Chemicals and Refining, he was named vice president, South Region, for North American Industrial Gases in 2000. Yankowski holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Jim Breedlove was named senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Praxair in 2006. He joined Praxair as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary in 2004. Before that, Breedlove was senior vice president and general counsel at GE Equipment Services in Stamford, Conn. He joined a division of General Electric Capital Corp. in 1992 as vice president and chief general counsel with global responsibility for legal and environmental affairs. He was also responsible for acquisitions, litigation management, antitrust compliance and employment law. He was promoted to senior vice president and general counsel in 1994. From 1990 to 1992, Breedlove served as assistant to the Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington. From 1978 to 1990, he held several positions with Philip Morris Companies, Inc., with responsibility for issues related to the SEC, corporate governance, financing, antitrust and litigation management. He also spent three years with Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York. A native of Danville, Va., Breedlove holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Harvard College, a law degree from Harvard Law School and a master's degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Mike Allan joined Praxair as vice president and treasurer in 2000. Previously, Allan had brief assignments in the venture capital and internet industries. From 1992 to 1997, he was vice president and treasurer of James River Corporation (now Fort James), a $6.3-billion global consumer paper products company in Richmond, Virginia. Before joining James River, he spent 16 years with The Toronto Dominion Bank in various senior positions, including managing director of communications finance in both Toronto and New York. Allan holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Bowdoin College. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Nigel Muir was appointed vice president, Communications & Public Relations, in February 1994. He is responsible for the direction and strategic alignment of all Praxair communications worldwide, including external, internal, financial and marketing communications. He is also President of The Praxair Foundation. Before joining Praxair, he was head of Public Relations for British Petroleum in London, U.K., for three years and director of Public Affairs for BP America, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, for six years. Prior to that, he had held senior public affairs positions at Westinghouse Electric Corp., United Technologies Corp., Pan American World Airways and Qantas Airways. A native of Sydney, Australia, Muir studied at London University, U.K., and is a graduate of the Executive Management School, University of California, Berkeley. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a member of the PR Seminar and Arthur W. Page Society. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Rick Steinseifer was named vice president, Mergers and Acquisitions, for Praxair, Inc. in 2005. He has primary responsibility for the implementation of all merger, acquisition, divestiture and joint- venture transactions for the company, its affiliates and subsidiaries. Steinseifer joined Praxair in 1996 as director of financial services for Praxair’s largest business unit, North American Industrial Gases. In 2001, he was named director of acquisitions for Healthcare and, in 2003, his role was expanded to vice president, business development. Prior to joining Praxair, Steinseifer held positions as vice president, controller and director, international business development, during his six years at Liquid Carbonic, the industrial gases division of CBI Industries. Prior to that, he spent eight years with GE Medical Systems and four years with J.I. Case Company in financial management positions. Steinseifer earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and completed the GE Financial Management Program. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Sally Savoia was named vice president, Human Resources, for Praxair in 2002. Savoia joined the company in 1981, holding positions in marketing, operations and quality before being named business manager, merchant gases, North America, in 1989. In 1993, she was named associate director, Investor Relations, and the following year became director of Praxair's worldwide re-engineering and quality programs. She was named vice president and general manager, Helium and Rare gases, in 1996 and became vice president, Healthcare, in 1998. A native of Connecticut, Savoia earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Sunil Mattoo was named vice president, strategic planning and marketing in 1999. Mattoo joined Praxair in 1995 as vice president, Marketing, and took on responsibility for strategic planning in 1997. Before joining Praxair, Mattoo was director of marketing at AlliedSignal, Morristown, New Jersey. Prior to that, he was a strategy and marketing consultant with McKinsey & Co. in Chicago and Stockholm. He also has held marketing management positions with Unisys AB in Sweden and Ericsson Information Systems in Denmark. A native of India, Mattoo earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Delhi. He also holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Lucknow, India, and a master’s of science degree in business systems analysis and design from London City University in the United Kingdom. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Tim Heenan was named vice president, Tax, in 2007, with worldwide responsibility for Praxair’s global, regional and local tax strategies and maintenance of sound tax policy and practices. Heenan joined Praxair in 2004 from Ernst & Young where he last served as a senior manager specializing in the development and implementation of international tax strategies for multinationals based both in the U.S. and outside the U.S. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Siena College, a master's degree in accounting from the State University of New York and a law degree from Albany Law School.

is an honor graduate of Farleigh Dickinson University, Rutherford, N.J. with a BS Degree in Business Management. He also holds certificates from NYU Graduate School and The Wharton School. He joined union Carbide in 1959 as a creative copywriter; held positions in communication and marketing, and is currently the Director of Distributor Marketing for Praxair. He has authored a number of articles for industry publications and has been a frequent presenter at NWSA meetings, most recently on the subject of electronic commerce and his experiences on the WWW where he operates two sites: Nana's Attic and Cromwell Creative.

Anne Roby became senior vice president, Global Sales, for Praxair, Inc. in 2009. Roby joined Praxair in 1991 as a development associate in the company's R&D organization. She became global marketing manager for chemicals and refining in 1996 and moved to Houston in 1999 to become a pipeline sales and business manager in the North American Industrial Gases business unit. She was named area director in 2004, responsible for commercial activities related to both pipeline and merchant atmospheric products. In 2006, she became vice president of the U.S. South Region, responsible for the growth and profitability of Praxair’s business in a seven-state area that includes many of Praxair’s major chemicals and refining customers. Roby earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware. She holds four patents for industrial gas applications. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Barry McGinley was named vice president, Global Procurement and Materials Management, in 2008. He is responsible for creating strategic supplier relationships worldwide in order to continuously improve the quality of equipment and services delivered to Praxair while reducing total costs. He is based in Shanghai, China. McGinley joined Praxair’s Global Supply Systems organization in 1996, initially executing projects in India. He later held project-management positions for standard, cryogenic and hydrogen plant installations. He also directed a low-cost-country sourcing program before taking on the role of director, Global Supply Systems-Europe in 2006. In 2007, he was named director, global project procurement, and relocated to Shanghai. Prior to joining Praxair, McGinley had served in a wide variety of engineering and project management assignments internationally for Mobil Oil Corporation beginning in 1990. McGinley earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a certified project management professional. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

Ms. Gargalli is a trustee emeritus of Carnegie Mellon University and Middlebury College and she is also a director of Baker Hughes, Inc., and Virginia National Bank.