Atkore names two to board of directors

HARVEY - Atkore International Group appointed Wilbert "Wil" W. James, Jr. and Justin A. Kershaw to the company's board of directors.

James is president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, which is Toyota Motor Corp.'s largest vehicle manufacturing plant in the world by capacity. James began his career with Toyota in 1987, where he held various roles, including his current position, which he has held since June 2010. He serves on the boards of Central Bank & Trust Co. and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and also is a trustee of the National Urban League and a member of the Executive Leadership Council.

James earned an associate in applied science degree from Old Dominion in 1976, and a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering technology from Old Dominion University in 1978, as well as an honorary doctorate of engineering from the University of Kentucky in 2013, and an honorary degree from the University of Pikeville in 2015.

Kershaw is chief information officer and corporate vice president of Cargill, a provider of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products. Previously, he was chief information officer and senior vice president at Eaton Corp. from 2006 to 2012. He Kershaw worked at W.L. Gore and Associates from 1996 to 2006, including serving as chief information officer for nine years. Prior to W.L. Gore, he worked at General Electric for eight years, where he held various roles in software and system engineering. Mr. Kershaw earned a bachelor of arts in economics from La Salle University in 1983.

Their appointment gives the company eleven directors, six of whom are independent.

"Their expertise and demonstrated successes strengthen our Board's breadth of talent and background and enable Atkore to benefit from their valuable contributions," said Philip Knisely, chairman of Atkore.