Michael Whitlow — Executive Vice President/Corporate Practice

 

As executive vice president at CRT/tanaka, Michael is responsible for leading CRT/tanaka's Corporate Practice. He was most recently vice president, investor relations and external affairs for Albemarle Corporation, a specialty chemicals manufacturer. In his 15-year tenure with Albemarle and Ethyl Corporation, he guided communications activities on a wide range of corporate and strategic issues for the companies. He led communications for the spin-off of Albemarle from Ethyl, for the divestiture of one-third of the Albemarle business following the spin-off, for numerous successful "bolt-on" acquisitions, for an bid to acquire Albright & Wilson (traded on the London Exchange) and for the acquisition of the refinery catalysts chemicals business of Akzo-Nobel in 2004.

 

In addition, he served as the company's primary contact with Wall Street, developing significant new purchases of Albemarle's stock among one-percent owner prospects and adding three new sell-side analysts during a three-year period when Wall Street firms were pulling back on small-cap company coverage. Additionally, he served as the communications leader on a major product approval initiative for Ethyl Corporation, taking him to lobbying and lobbying support assignments in Europe, South America and Canada. Prior to joining Ethyl, he was with Lawler Ballard Public Relations in Richmond, Va., as vice president. His clients included CSX Corporation, Figgie International, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Marriott Hotels Group and International Telephone & Telegraph.