The top man at Graham Packaging Co. is stepping down after eight years on the job, a period during which he took the company from $500 million to $2.5 billion in annual sales.

Philip Yates, who has been with Graham Packaging for more than 30 years, is retiring as chief executive officer but will remain chairman of the company's board.

Warren Knowlton will step in as the new CEO of the Springettsbury Township-based company, which makes plastic containers for juice drinks, condiments and other products.

Graham Packaging, which employs about 900 people locally, is also the top supplier in the United States, Canada and Brazil of 1-quart containers for motor oil.

Manufacturing experience: Knowlton served as CEO and executive director of Morgan Crucible Co. for four years ending in August. That company manufactures carbon and ceramic products. Before taking that position, he served as executive director of Pilkington Group, one of the world's largest glassmakers.

Both Pilkington and Morgan Crucible are publicly traded companies in London. Graham Packaging is a privately held company, with the New York-based private equity company Blackstone Group the majority stakeholder.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Graham Packaging. It is a first-rate company with a superb customer base and industry-leading technology," Knowlton said in a company statement.

Knowlton holds a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary, an M.B.A. from the University of Utah, and a J.D. from the University of Toledo.

The company declined requests for interviews or comment beyond the information included in yesterday's announcement.

Joining Knowlton will be Mark Burgess, who has been named chief financial officer of Graham Packaging, succeeding John Hamilton, who is leaving after a 22-year career with the company. He plans to pursue other interests, including his family's business.

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