Zoltek names new chief operating officer

Bridgeton-based Zoltek Cos. announced today the appointment of a new chief operating officer, Karen Bomba.

Bomba will join the company from Messier-Bugatti, a French maker of aircraft propulsion systems, brakes, security and defense systems and other communications. Bomba had been chief-executive of Messier-Bugatti’s U.S. operations since Nov. 2004.

The company made the announcement during a conference call with analysts and said a specific start date would be announced soon.

During the call, Zsolt Rumy, Zoltek’s chairman, president and chief executive, said he was familiar with Bomba because Zoltek supplies a kind of carbon fiber to Messier-Bugatti to make aircraft brakes.

Bomba will fill the position vacated January 2006 by David Harding.

Rumy additionally announced the hiring of several new people to marketing and support positions.