Michael Colwell, Senior Vice President, Industrial Processing of Kadant, has announced three promotions: Kenny Leathers, Chris Demler and Jerry Westerkamp.
"I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Kenny Leathers as the next President of Kadant Black Clawson," Colwell said. "Kenny will continue to report to me as we transition into this new chapter for both of us. Starting in January, we will share responsibilities for a brief period to ensure a smooth handover, with Kenny fully stepping into his new role in February.
"Kenny has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a proven ability to drive sales and business success. He has led key organizational changes while upholding our shared cultural values and respect for individuals. Under his guidance, our applications, field service, and sales teams have been restructured to ensure the right people are in the right roles, positioning us for ongoing success.
"As a leader, Kenny has fully embraced our 80/20 process, championed aftermarket business initiatives, pursued capital system opportunities with determination, and strengthened our client relationships. The introduction of our Symphony Service support model--which integrates people-first values with advanced technology--is a testament to our commitment to innovation and client focus. Kenny is uniquely positioned to lead this next evolution of our operating model.
"Kadant Black Clawson is a remarkable organization with a strong team and many opportunities for growth. Reflecting on the 29 years I've been part of this team, I am incredibly proud of all we've accomplished together and I look forward to continuing this journey alongside Kenny and everyone at KBC. Please join me in congratulating Kenny on this well-deserved promotion!"
Chris Demler has been promoted to Vice President of Fiber Processing at Kadant, effective January 1, 2025. He will oversee Kadant's global fiber processing companies, including Black Clawson, Lamort, Fiberline China, and Upcycling. Chris will transfer his current responsibilities to Kenny Leathers and move to the Westford office early in the year. Chris has been with Kadant since 2006, serving as President of Kadant Black Clawson since 2019. He has fostered a culture of collaboration and engagement, leading to strong financial and operational results. Michael Colwell, Senior Vice President of Industrial Processing, expressed confidence in Chris's ability to lead the Fiber Processing team to greater success.
Kenny Leathers will report to Chris Demler, who in turn will report to Michael Colwell, and Jerry Westerkamp reports to Kenny Leathers.
"I am pleased to announce that Jerry Westerkamp will be joining Kadant Black Clawson as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective January 2, 2025," Colwell said. "Jerry will report to me and will be a critical member of our executive leadership team as we continue to drive innovation, excellence, and growth within our industry. Jerry brings extensive experience in sales, operations, product development, and continuous improvement, coupled with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering exceptional business results. His deep expertise in strategic account management, organizational design, and cultural transformation will be invaluable as we strengthen our focus on delighting our clients and expanding Kadant Black Clawson's market leadership.
"In his most recent role as Global Key Account Leader at Barry Wehmiller Packaging, Jerry led strategic initiatives across multiple divisions, coaching teams to enhance commercial excellence with top-tier global accounts. Jerry's career also includes leadership roles at Clopay, where he served as Vice President and General Manager of North America and as Global Director of Sales. These roles allowed him to lead functional groups, manage large teams, and secure key client agreements that drove significant growth. He also gained valuable early career experience at International Paper, further broadening his expertise in the industry. Please join me in extending a warm congratulations to Jerry and offering your full support as he begins this exciting new chapter with us."
About Kadant Black Clawson LLC
Kadant Black Clawson LLC is a leading fiber processing and recycling equipment supplier that designs, manufactures, and services equipment used in virgin and recycled paper stock preparation and paper machine approach-flow applications. The company's products, technologies, and services play an integral role in enhancing process efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in resource-intensive industries. For more information, visit fiberprocessing.kadant.com.
About Kadant
Kadant is a global supplier of technologies and engineered systems that drive Sustainable Industrial Processing®. Kadant is based in Westford, Massachusetts, with approximately 3,500 employees in 20 countries worldwide. For more information, visit kadant.com.
