TOTOWA, NJ, January 14, 2002 – Pitman Company, the leading independent North American graphic arts supplier, has announced the promotion of Kevin McCarthy to Branch Manager of the company's expanded New England sales, service and distribution facility based in Taunton, Massachusetts. Mr. McCarthy has been with Pitman for 16 of his 20 years in the New England graphics industry. He began with the company as a sales representative, and for the last two years has been a sales manager of the branch. He succeeds Barry Budwit who has moved to the post of Director of New Business Development in Pitman's corporate headquarters. Joe Demharter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pitman Company, said, "Kevin brings proven leadership assets to the management of this important branch. He is highly respected by our customers throughout New England for his knowledge of the full spectrum of the traditional and advanced digital technologies that Pitman provides from more than 200 manufacturers. He will assure that his team focuses on the best equipment and products to develop the most productive solutions for our customers." Pitman's New England branch comprises 25 sales, technical, administrative and distribution employees, including digital and packaging specialists. The branch's New England territory coverage was recently expanded to add customers in southern Connecticut who previously had been served from Pitman's Totowa branch facility. Mr. McCarthy holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Providence College and an MBA in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. He and his wife, Denise, daughter, Ceili and son, Thomas are residents of Middletown, Rhode Island.