Supreme Industries, Inc. (NYSE Amex: STS) today announced several senior management changes:
- Robert W. Wilson, 66, President and Chief Operating Officer of the company and President and Chief Executive Officer of the company's wholly owned operating subsidiary, Supreme Indiana Operations, Inc., has announced his retirement. He will work with the company to support a successful transition in leadership as an advisor to the Board on Special Projects. He will continue in his position on the Board of Directors.
- Herbert M. Gardner, 71, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the company and the Chairman of the Board of Supreme Indiana, will continue as Chairman of the Board, but has relinquished the role of Chief Executive Officer. He will be actively involved in supporting the transition of management.
- Kim Korth, 56, President and owner of IRN Inc., a leading consulting firm in the vehicle and transportation industry, has been appointed President and CEO of the company and Supreme Indiana in an interim capacity. Korth and her firm have been working with the company for the last year and she is well positioned to provide leadership during this transition period. Korth was added to the company's Board of Directors this week.
- Last month, the company announced a new executive leadership team composed of Tom Beard, Vice President of Operations, Bob Besse, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mike Oium, Vice President of Systems Management, and Jeff Mowery, Vice President of Finance. This team will be responsible for day-to-day decision making at the company and will report directly to Korth.
- A Special Committee has been formed of the current Board members, including Herbert M. Gardner, William J. Barrett, Mark C. Neilson, and Kim Korth, to assist the leadership team during the transition and to begin a process to identify and hire the new President and CEO of the Company and Supreme Indiana. That process is expected to be completed in the third quarter.
"The entire Board is extremely grateful for Bob Wilson's many years of service and the leadership he has provided to Supreme during his six years as President," said Gardner. "We are also very pleased that Kim Korth has formally joined our executive team as she has the background and skills to help ensure continued improvements in Supreme's performance."
Korth has been actively involved in the transportation industry for more than 25 years and has worked with a wide variety of industry participants. She serves on a number of company boards, including Stoneridge, Inc., a NYSE company active in the automotive and heavy truck industry. She is also a former Director of Spartan Motors, Inc.
"Kim is well positioned to provide positive leadership for Supreme while the Special Committee of the Board performs its functions," Gardner said.