Sunbeam chief says not interested in WMI slot

by Christen Jackson

SBJ Contributing Writer

The head of Sunbeam Corp., which operates a plant in Neosho, is once again at the center of controversy.

Waste Management Inc. told Reuters News Service Dec. 19 that acting chief executive Steve Miller met with Al Dunlap, chief executive of Sunbeam Corp., in November to discuss Waste Management's search for a permanent CEO.

"I appreciated Mr. Dunlap's hospitality, his time and his perspective," Miller said. "I have high regard for his talents as an executive and respect his views on corporate governance. Our board's search for a new chief executive officer who can best deliver value for our shareholders continues to go very well."

The largest U.S. trash hauler, based in Oak Brook, Ill., said the meeting took place at the suggestion of "several large Waste Management shareholders."

Dunlap issued a press release in which he said he had no interest in the job as head of Waste Management and called "completely untrue" rumors he was campaigning for the position.

At Sunbeam, Dunlap has quickly cut about half the company's 12,000-employee work force and eliminated 80 percent of its product lines. In October, Dunlap put Sunbeam into play for either sale or a merger.