Recycled-content plastics manufacturer Trex Co. Inc., Winchester, Virginia, has announced changes in its executive leadership team, including the appointment of James Cline, currently senior vice president and chief financial officer of Trex, as its new president and CEO, effective Aug. 17, 2015.
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| James Cline |
Cline will assume the new roles upon the retirement of Ronald Kaplan and also will join the Trex board of directors. Kaplan will continue as chairman of Trex.
Trex also has announced that Bryan Fairbanks, senior director, supply chain and executive director, international business development, will succeed Cline as chief financial officer in August, and that F. Timothy Reese, senior vice president of operations, will retire.
“The board has completed a rigorous search for the right CEO to lead the next stage of Trex’s growth. We are delighted to have found that person in Jim Cline, who has been chief financial officer since 2008. He was key to our successful turnaround and has been instrumental in our recent successes,” says Kaplan. “Among many other attributes, he brings to his new role an extensive knowledge of the industry and the proven ability to lead.”
Lead Director Frank Merlotti, Jr. adds, “I would first like to express the board’s deep gratitude to Ron (Kaplan) for the superb job he has done over the last eight years. After joining Trex at a very difficult time in its history, Ron completely transformed the company, establishing it as the pre-eminent leader in high-performance decking and railing products with best-in-class operations, industry-leading innovation and a strong financial profile.”
Fairbanks, who joined Trex in 2004, has served as senior director, supply chain from 2006 through the present, and as executive director, international business development, since 2012. From 2004 to 2006, he held the position of director, financial planning and analysis.
Cline comments, “Bryan has more than a decade of business, operational and financial experience with Trex, and has done an outstanding job in each of the roles he has held. With his diverse background and successful track record, he is perfectly positioned to become Trex’s chief financial officer.”
Kaplan says, “All of us are indebted to Tim Reese for the key role he played over the past eight years in helping Trex Company achieve best-in-class manufacturing capabilities. His unrelenting focus on bottom-line disciplines has enabled us to realize major productivity improvements and cost reductions. We are grateful for Tim’s leadership and wish him the best in his retirement.”