WILMINGTON, DE -- DuPont Co. announced that Louis F. Savelli, group vice president of DuPont Performance Coatings, will retire Oct. 15 after 42 years with the company. He will be succeeded by Edward J. Donnelly Jr., currently vice president and general manager -- Global Refinish and Industrial Coatings and DuPont Performance Coatings.

Richard R. Goodmanson, DuPont executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Savelli had provided "exceptional leadership" during the company's acquisition and integration of Herberts, formerly the biggest coatings manufacturer in Europe. Savelli also presided over "consistent performance improvement and growth of the DuPont Performance Coatings business" and "successful growth and diversification of the DuPont inks business, including expansion of ink-jet ink technologies," Goodmanson said.

"Throughout his career, Lou has exemplified the importance of service and commitment to customers. He has developed strong customer relationships and has been widely recognized for his contributions to the automotive industry," Goodmanson said.

Savelli also is a past chairman of the National Paint & Coatings Association, and in 1998 received the association's highest honor, the George Baugh Heckel Award.

Savelli joined DuPont in 1959 as a chemical engineer in the Research and Development Division of the former Polychemicals Department, and held a variety of sales, technical and management positions for DuPont businesses in engineering plastics, fluoropolymers, films, filaments, and fabricated products. He became director of DuPont's Finishes Division in June 1989 and president of DuPont Automotive in 1990. He was named to his current position in 1999.

Donnelly has held research, manufacturing, planning and marketing, and business-management positions with DuPont's coatings business. Goodmanson described Donnelly as "an ideal choice to lead DuPont Performance Coatings to its next level of performance and growth."

Donnelly joined DuPont in 1969 as a chemist in the Marshall R&D Laboratory in Philadelphia, and held a variety of positions before being named global business director of Automotive Finishes in 1990. He was appointed director of planning for DuPont Automotive Finishes in 1998, and was instrumental in the acquisition of the Herberts Coatings business. He was named to his current position in 1999.

The company also said Eric G. Melin, global business director -- Zytel, DuPont Engineering Polymers, will become vice president and general manager -- Global Refinish and Industrial Coatings and DuPont Performance Coatings Americas, succeeding Donnelly.