MINNEAPOLIS - The Valspar Corp. named William L. Mansfield executive vice president and chief operating officer and Steve Erdahl executive vice president - Coatings, and announced other key management appointments.

Mansfield assumes responsibility for the direction of all business groups, and Erdahl will lead the company's Packaging, Coil, General Industrial and related industrial-coatings businesses.

Mansfield joined Mobil Chemical in 1977 and Valspar in 1984, and has spent most of his career leading Valspar's packaging-coatings business, a major global supplier of food- and beverage-can coatings. In 2000, he also assumed responsibility for leading Valspar's architectural-coatings business.

Erdahl joined Valspar in 1974 and has headed Valspar's industrial-coatings business for most of his career with the company. He was instrumental in Valspar's acquisition and integration of Lilly Industries Inc.

The company also named Gary Hendrickson Group vice president, Global Wood Coatings and President Asia Pacific; Don Nolan Group vice president, Global Packaging Coatings; and Michael Brandt president, Valspar Europe and a corporate vice president.

Hendrickson joined Valspar in 1994 and was named president, Asia Pacific and corporate vice president in 2001. Nolan joined Valspar in 1996 and was named corporate vice president for Packaging Coatings - Americas in 2001. Brandt joined Valspar in 1992 and was named president, Valspar Europe, in 2001.

Valspar Chairman and CEO Richard Rompala said the promotions "recognize the strength of our senior-management team and continue to position Valspar for future growth and operational excellence, reinforcing Valspar's mission to become the best coatings company in the world."