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Manufacturing 2025: KEOGH, SCOTT
Keogh leads German parent company Volkswagen’s electric truck and sport utility vehicle division, a job he took in 2022 after serving as president and CEO for Volkswagen of America for four years. Scout is a revamp of the iconic Scout all-terrain vehicle brand produced by International Harvester from 1961 to 1980. In 2021, Volkswagen acquired […]
Manufacturing 2025: TIDEY, R. SCOTT
Following Gregory H. Trepp’s September 2024 retirement, Tidey became the appliance manufacturer’s new CEO and a board member. He was named president earlier last year as part of Hamilton Beach’s succession plan. Previously, Tidey was senior vice president of global sales at subsidiary Hamilton Beach Brands, and he started with the company in 2010 as […]
Manufacturing 2025: HÖGBERG, FREDRIK
A native of Sweden, Högberg became president of Volvo Penta North America in 2022. He joined Volvo Group in 1994 and has held a variety of positions, including in digital services, retail development and aftermarket sales. He previously was senior vice president for services, solutions, digital and IT for Mack and Volvo Trucks North America. […]
Manufacturing 2025: IBAÑEZ, JESUS
Ibañez joined Lego Manufacturing Virginia in January to oversee hiring and construction of the Danish toymaker’s $1 billion Chesterfield County facility, bringing two decades of executive leadership in multiple countries. He previously served as vice president of operations at Lego’s plant in Monterrey, Mexico, and was executive operations director for tire company Bridgestone. Before[...]
Manufacturing 2025: WILKIN JR., NEIL D.
Wilkin was named Optical Cable’s chairman and CEO in 2003, two years after joining the company as its chief financial officer. Optical Cable, which manufactures fiber optic and copper communication cables and connectivity products, reported a profit of $18.2 million for fiscal 2024, down 18.3% from the previous year. In July, Optical Cable announced it […]
Manufacturing 2025: KEFFER, CHRIS
Keffer took over leadership of U.S. operations in 2023 for German outdoor power equipment manufacturer Stihl. He has been leading the company’s transition toward battery-powered equipment, a $60 million-plus investment that included converting warehouse space to make room for battery tool manufacturing. Keffer joined the company in 2022 as vice president for sales and marketing […]
Manufacturing 2025: BROADFOOT, HOWARD
Founded in Bristol in 1958, Electro-Mechanical is an electrical equipment manufacturer that sells its products under the Line Power, Federal Pacific, Mafesa and Mirus International brands. In 2024, the company announced plans to invest $16.55 million to add a 200,000-square-foot facility in Washington County that is expected to create 109 jobs. Electro-Mechanical also has three manufacturing [&he[...]
Manufacturing 2025: CODINA, ESTER
Codina started in her current position with Swedish company Alfa Laval in 2022 after serving as senior vice president of its U.S. service and marine divisions. Founded in 1883, the company is a global manufacturer of heat transfer, separation and fluid-handling products, mainly for the energy, environment, food and marine industries. In October 2024, Alfa […]
Manufacturing 2025: SPILMAN JR., ROBERT H.
Spilman has led Bassett Furniture as its CEO since 2000, also becoming the company’s board chairman in 2016. He has been with the home furniture retailer, manufacturer and marketer for four decades and succeeded his father, Robert H. Spilman Sr., as its chief executive. A network of 87 company- and licensee-owned Bassett Home Furnishings stores […]
Manufacturing 2025: JENKINS, JONATHAN
Jenkins became president of Culpeper Wood Preservers in 2016. Started from a single location in Culpeper in 1976, the company now has 19 locations on the East Coast and in Indiana and Tennessee. It is a leading manufacturer of pressure-treated lumber products for the residential, commercial, industrial and marine markets. Its name-brand products are sold […]
Manufacturing 2025: HAYES, TOM
In 2023, tobacco giant and Altria Group competitor Philip Morris International obtained full ownership of Swedish Match AB. The company develops, manufactures and distributes products including chew bags, moist snuff, tobacco-free nicotine pouches, matches and lighters. Hayes began working for the Swedish tobacco products manufacturer in 2006, serving as chief financial officer and senior vice pr[...]
Manufacturing 2025: PALIOTTI, BRIAN D.
Paliotti has been president of Afton Chemical since 2023, after having joined the company in 2008 as operations finance director and working for its parent company, NewMarket, as senior finance director. Afton develops and manufactures lubricant and fuel additive packages and markets and sells the products globally. Afton maintains operations in North America, Europe, Asia, […]
