MILWAUKEE, Wis., Aug. 8-- Milwaukee-based electric motor and water heater manufacturer A.O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) today announced Kenneth W. Krueger has joined the company as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

In his new position, Krueger will be responsible for all financial functions of the corporation, including treasury, controllership, investor relations, and management information services.

Krueger succeeds Glen R. Bomberger, who has announced his intention to retire in 2001 after a distinguished career of over 40 years with A.O. Smith. Bomberger will continue as an executive vice president of the corporation and member of the Board of Directors and will handle a number of special assignments during the transition with particular focus on acquisition and divestiture activity.

Krueger joins A.O. Smith after serving as vice president-finance and business planning of the Hydraulics, Semiconductor Equipment, and Specialty Controls Group of Eaton Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. He was responsible for all financial functions as well as the creation of a business development function for the group.

From 1983 until 1999, he worked at Rockwell Automation, a subsidiary of Rockwell International. He held a number of accounting and finance positions with that company and was involved in international finance, mergers and acquisitions, and information technology. From 1994 until 1999, he served as vice president-finance and administration of Rockwell Automation, a group comprised of the Allen-Bradley Company and Reliance Electric.

Krueger began his career in the Milwaukee office of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, an international accounting firm, where he held the position of audit manager.

He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with a bachelor's degree in accounting and management information systems. He also is a certified public accountant.

A.O. Smith Corporation, with 1999 sales of $1.0 billion, is a leading marketer and manufacturer of electric motors and water heaters. It is one of North America's largest manufacturers of motors, with a comprehensive line of fractional horsepower, hermetic, and integral horsepower motors. The company also is North America's largest manufacturer of commercial water heating equipment and a leading supplier of residential water heaters and hydronic boilers. The company has facilities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, England, Ireland, Hungary, the Netherlands, and China and employs more than 15,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE A.O. Smith Corporation

CONTACT: Edward J. O'Connor of A.O. Smith Corporation, 414-359-4100/