MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ: Richard Silverman has joined Honeywell as director of corporate media relations. He had been first VP and director, global media relations, with Merrill Lynch until leaving that post at the end of last year.
He'll oversee Honeywell corporate media relations and crisis communications, reporting to Tom Buckmaster, VP of corporate communications.
Silverman said he took the position because he felt his view of media relations meshed with Honeywell's.
"I believe in (being) open with the media," Silverman said. "There are good stories to tell here. I think it's just a matter of opening up the lines of communications and telling them."
Analysts often have trouble classifying Honeywell because of the diversity of its businesses. "It's difficult to pigeonhole this company. I think it's very important to tell the whole story," Silverman said.
Honeywell has made headlines recently because of shortfalls in its employee pension funds brought on by the slumping stock market. The company has said it may take a $1.7 billion charge against equity this year to cover pension-plan needs.
Silverman said the pension issue "is an ongoing situation that Honeywell, as well as scores of other companies, are facing." He'll be media point man on that matter.
