William J. (Bill) Avery, began his career as a management trainee with Crown Cork & seal in 1959 in the Chicago plant while he completed his studies at the University of Chicago. Mr. Avery attained successively more responsible positions with the company as Plant Manager, then Area Manufacturing Manager, Vice President Sales Midwest Division in 1972, and in 1974 was appointed Corporate Vice President of Sales. In 1976, he was appointed Senior Vice President and four years later, he became President and Chief Operating Officer. He currently holds the position of Chairman and CEO.

  Crown has grown dramatically under Mr. Avery’s leadership. From 1990 to 1995 sales increased from $1.5 billion to $5 billion. The company’s position in the packaging industry has been enhanced through a series of strategic acquisitions nationally and internationally as the company moved from being a metal packaging company into also becoming a leading supplier of plastic containers and specialty closures for food and beverage containers. Acquisition activity in 1996 brought the largest packaging company in Europe, CarnaudMetalbox, into the Crown family. This has increased sales to the $10 billion mark and has made Crown the premier packaging company in the world.

  Mr. Avery us active in educational, charitable and civic organizations both in Philadelphia and outside the region. His board memberships include the YMCA, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Greater Philadelphia First, National Constitution Center, Opportunities Industrialization Center, University of Chicago - Graduate School of Business, Gwynedd Mercy College, the Connelly Foundation, PhAME, PAL, Avenue of the Arts Inc., the Franklin Institute and the Regional Performing Arts Center.

    Bill Avery and his wife, Sharon, are Philadelphia area residents with a family of three children and one grandchild. He spends his time between his family and the church - he has been Knighted by Pope John Paul II and inducted into the order of St. Gregory. His personal hobbies include sports car collecting, fishing and hunting.

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