JAMES M. KOTEK RETIRES AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MENASHA CORPORATION; BOARD APPOINTS CHRISTOPHER D. DREES AS SUCCESSOR
Menasha Corporation announced today that James M. Kotek will step down as President and Chief Executive Officer in March. The Board of Directors of Menasha Corporation has appointed Christopher D. Drees as Kotek’s successor effective March 13, 2023. Drees will also join the Board of Directors of Menasha Corporation on that date.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, the executive leadership team and the 7,500 employees of Menasha Corporation, I want to thank Jim for his 32 years of dedicated service to our company, 14 of them as President and CEO,” said Donald C. Shepard, III, Chairman of the Board of Menasha Corporation. “Jim led Menasha Corporation through a period of unprecedented growth while maintaining a singular focus on one guiding principle: people first. The Board and our shareholders sincerely thank Jim for his dedication to Menasha Corporation and wish him well in his retirement.”
“It has been an extraordinary honor to serve as CEO of Menasha Corporation,” said Kotek. “Having had the opportunity to lead such a unique and historic company has been humbling. I am proud of the success we have achieved and of all the employees who have helped make it possible. Ultimately, I am confident that Chris Drees is the right leader to build on that foundation and propel the Company to even higher levels of success in the future.”
Drees joins Menasha Corporation after a successful 24-year career at Brunswick Corporation, during which he progressed through successively more responsible operational and general management roles culminating in his 2019 appointment as President of Mercury Marine, Brunswick’s largest division.
“The Board is excited about the future of the Company under Chris’ leadership. As we have gotten to know Chris better, it has become clear that his strategic vision, deep manufacturing and operations experience, and impressive leadership skill set make him a perfect fit for the position of CEO of Menasha Corporation,” said Shepard.
“I want to thank Jim Kotek for his distinguished leadership at Menasha Corporation and the Board for their confidence in me as I assume this position,” said Drees. “I am honored and excited to lead a company with such a long history of success that also gives so much back to the communities in which it operates.”
