CLEVELAND, Dec. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Thomas L. Williams, current Chief Executive Officer and a Director, as Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2016. Mr. Williams succeeds Donald E. Washkewicz, who will remain a Director.

Thomas L. Williams

“I am honored to succeed Don as Chairman and greatly appreciate the trust the Board has placed in me,” said Williams. “Parker holds strong competitive advantages that have shaped our leadership position in the motion and control industry. Our new Win Strategy builds on the strong foundation Don has established, and provides a clear roadmap with aggressive new targets that will drive top quartile performance among our proxy peers and deliver strong returns for our shareholders.”

Mr. Williams has been Chief Executive Officer since February 1, 2015. He joined Parker in 2003 as Vice President, Operations for the Hydraulics Group and became President of the Instrumentation Group in 2005. In 2006, he became Executive Vice President and Operating Officer of the company.

Robert J. Kohlhepp, Parker’s independent Lead Director, commented, “We look forward to working with Tom in his new role as Chairman of the Board. Our dual leadership structure, consisting of both a Chairman of the Board and a separate and independent Lead Director, continues to effectively serve shareholders. Among other things, it ensures both independence in leadership and a Chairman with deep company knowledge, both of which are aligned with driving shareholder value.”

About Parker Hannifin Corporation

With annual sales of approximately $13 billion in fiscal year 2015, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets.  Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 59 consecutive fiscal years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index.  For more information, visit the company's website at www.parker.com, or its investor information website at www.phstock.com.

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Media –
Aidan Gormley, Director, Global Communications and Branding
216/896-3258
aidan.gormley@parker.com

Investors –
Robin Davenport, Vice President, Corporate Finance
216/896-2265
rjdavenport@parker.com