Eriez, a global leader in separation technologies, appointed Jaisen Kohmuench as president and CEO, effective January 1, 2024. He succeeded Lukas Guenthardt, who retired from those posts at the end of 2023.
The company said that the appointment is the culmination of a carefully planned succession strategy, with Kohmuench working closely alongside Guenthardt and the Eriez board of directors to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.
Richard Merwin, chairman of the board, conveyed his appreciation for the outgoing president and CEO, stating,
"Lukas has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s transformative growth, fostering innovation, and achieving remarkable success during his tenure. Under his visionary leadership, Eriez achieved record revenues and strengthened its global market presence.”
After a comprehensive selection process that considered both internal and external candidates, Kohmuench emerged as the clear choice to succeed Guenthardt, according to Merwin. With more than two decades of service to Eriez, Kohmuench has held various executive-level roles within the organization, most recently as chief operating officer.
The announcement came several weeks after the company named Daryl Leach as its chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer.
Before joining Eriez, Leach reportedly played a pivotal role in driving financial excellence and strategic growth at Zeus Industrial Products in Lexington, South Carolina. His career, the company said, has encompassed a variety of growth-oriented finance roles across diverse sectors, including consumer goods, medical devices, and industrial manufacturing, both in publicly traded and privately held companies.
Leach holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics from Charleston Southern University and a Master of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
