On March 19, Wagstaff Inc., a Spokane, Washington-based machinery, technology and service company that enables aluminium producers to transform molten aluminium into solid shapes using ‘direct chill casting’, announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kevin Person, would retire on March 29, 2024. The company also said that its current Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Steve Anderson, would succeed Kevin Person and serve as the new CEO.
Kevin Person is a well-known personality in the aluminium manufacturing sector in Spokane for about a half century. Before serving Wagstaff for 25 years, he was associated with Kaiser Aluminum for 21 years. During his tenure in Wagstaff, Person held the titles of Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Application Engineering Manager.
Under his leadership, the company achieved record sales and revenue and significantly expanded its Spokane campus, while navigating some of the serious challenges posed by the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Person also enabled Wagstaff to diversify its business from direct chill casting to the nuclear industry.
Wagstaff’s Board of Directors commented, “(We) sincerely thank Kevin for the years of outstanding leadership, counsel and stewardship he has provided” and that Person “brought excellent value to Wagstaff immediately…We wish nothing but the very best for Kevin as he begins his well-deserved retirement.”
Steve Anderson joined Wagstaff Inc. in 1995, so he has begun his third decade with the company as CEO. As an Electrical Engineer from Washington State University, Steve Anderson has held many engineering positions across several departments. As Mr Anderson also carries a degree of Business Management, he has served Waggstaff as ASG Engineering Manager, R&D Automation Manager, and Director of Engineering.
According to the company’s Board of Directors, “Steve’s breadth of education and work experience have provided him the opportunity to not only develop his leadership skills, but additionally to see and understand the organization from numerous internal perspectives. We look forward to Steve applying those strengths and abilities to his new role and look forward to continued success for Wagstaff under his leadership.”
To succeed Steve Anderson, White Jack, the current Applications Engineering Manager will serve as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. White, who holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University, has 39 years of experience in the aluminum industry to draw on in his new role.
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