Watts Industries, Inc. has announced the appointment of its new chief executive officer, Patrick S. O'Keefe, effective immediately. O'Keefe replaces Timothy P. Horne who announced on June 20th his plans to retire. Horne is also retiring as chairman of the board but will remain as a director. The board has nominated and elected Gordon W. Moran as its non-executive chairman. Moran has served on the board since 1990. O'Keefe has also been elected to the board.

O'Keefe, age 49, has most recently served as president, chief executive officer and director of Industrial Distribution Group, which is a publicly traded company with sales of approximately $550 million. His prior executive positions include serving as president and chief executive officer of Zep Manufacturing, a wholly owned unit of National Service Industries. He also worked for Crane Co. from 1994 to 1997. His last position with Crane was as president, chief executive officer and director of Huttig Sash and Door Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Crane Co., with sales of approximately $800 million. Prior to that assignment, he served as president, chief executive officer and director of Crane Canada, which consisted of Crane Supply and Crane Plumbing, with sales of approximately $250 million.