Encore Wire appoints new CFO

Encore Wire Corp., a wire manufacturing firm based in McKinney, Texas, has announced that Frank Bilban, vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) at Encore Wire, plans to retire in May 2020. His successor, Bret Eckert, was hired after an intensive search process, the company reports in a news release.

“Frank Bilban has been a vital member of our executive team and has served the company with distinction, making an immense contribution to the growth and success of the company,” says Daniel Jones, chairman, president and CEO at Encore Wire Corp. “By the time he retires, he will have been our CFO for 20 years. He deserves more time to spend with his family and relaxing playing golf, hunting and traveling. All of us at Encore Wire wish Frank a long, happy retirement. Although we hate to lose Frank, we are delighted to have Bret Eckert replace Frank as vice president-finance, treasurer, secretary and chief financial officer.” 

Eckert, 52, has an extensive experience managing financial operations in several firms, Encore Wire reports. Most recently, Eckert served as executive managing director for the Houston office of Riveron Consulting LLC, a business advisory firm, from June 2018 to August 2019. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and CFO of Atmos Energy Corp. in Dallas for about five years. He spent the first 22 years of his career with Ernst & Young LLP where he was a partner for 10 years. Eckert had numerous manufacturing clients, including Encore Wire, whom he audited for five years as a manager and later for five years as a partner. 

Effective as of Sept. 3, Eckert has been appointed vice president-finance of Encore Wire Corp. Bilban will remain a vice-president finance and CFO, treasurer and secretary through Dec. 31, while transitioning to Eckert. Eckert will take over as CFO, treasurer and secretary on Jan. 1, 2020. Bilban will remain as vice president-finance until the company’s annual meeting of shareholders in May to assist Eckert as needed. 

Encore Wire Corp. is a manufacturer of copper and aluminum residential, commercial and industrial building wire. It offers recycling services and about 20 percent of the company’s copper is postconsumer recycled copper.