InterChange announces several leadership changes

Mount Crawford-based industrial developer and logistics company InterChange Group announced several major changes to its executive leadership.

Effective March 10, Keith VanBenschoten assumed the role of chief strategy officer, and Cliff Alt was promoted to chief operating officer. The company also announced that Timothy Cognata had been appointed director of sales.

A company spokesperson said the director of sales and chief strategy officer positions are new. The previous COO was VanBenschoten, who the spokesperson said moved to a more strategic position versus a day-to-day operations role.

InterChange said the leadership changes came in response to “evolving market demands” and the desire for the company to position itself better to capture new customers while better serving existing clients.

“We are thrilled to have Cliff, Keith, and Tim in these critical roles as we continue to strengthen our leadership team,” said InterChange CEO Devon Anders in a statement. “Their collective experience and leadership will help propel InterChange forward as we optimize operations, expand our services, and maintain our commitment to delivering outstanding value to our customers.”

VanBenschoten has been with the company for more than 24 years, having previously worked as a senior leader and company ambassador. In his new role, VanBenschoten will focus on driving strategic initiatives, mentoring team members and taking a leadership role in short-term operational projects. He will also advocate for the company in industry and community forums.

Alt joined InterChange in 2019 as its cold storage manager. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was a plant manager for George’s before joining the company. InterChange describes Alt’s leadership as “instrumental” in modernizing operations. Last year, he assumed the director of operations role, where he led the team through organizational growth.

InterChange says his promotion to COO will enable the company to meet the needs of more complex customer opportunities. Alt holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University.

Cognata has more than 30 years of experience in business development and sales leadership. According to his LinkedIn account, he was DHL’s director of business development for over 12 years and served in numerous sales roles at Craft Brew Alliance.

In his new role, Cognata will be responsible for driving InterChange’s sales strategy and expanding its customer base.

InterChange is a full-service warehousing, cold storage and logistics company serving the East Coast. The company is headquartered in Mount Crawford but has terminal locations in Portsmouth and Front Royal. A company spokesperson said that InterChange has about 400 employees.