AstenJohnson, Charleston, S.C., USA, announced earlier this month that Kevin Frank (photo) will replace Dan Cappell as CEO of AstenJohnson Holdings, effective immediately. The AstenJohnson Board and Cappell have been carefully planning this succession over the past year. Cappell will remain with the company and be available on a consulting basis for the next four months to ensure a seamless transition.

Frank will assume Cappell’s responsibilities as CEO and will report directly to AstenJohnson Chairman Bill Finn.

"Kevin is an exceptional talent. His depth of knowledge and experience will bring a fresh perspective to our business and growth prospects," said Finn. "His passion for growth, experience in paper-related industries, and commitment to continuing the AstenJohnson culture will help us serve our customers even more effectively for years to come. I’m excited about what he will bring to AstenJohnson as we execute our evolving business strategy."

Prior to AstenJohnson, Frank held a number of roles with Voith. He most recently served as CEO of Voith Hydro with responsibility for the U.S. Under his leadership, the business grew significant sales and market share in a very competitive market.

"During Dan Cappell’s 30 years of service to AstenJohnson, his passion for our strategy, dedication to our associates and our customers, and innovative thinking pushed us forward," said Finn. "From the very beginning, his vision led us to establish a world class investment in Asia and solidify our position as a premier provider of paper-machine clothing and equipment. Most recently, he put us on a path to future growth in Advanced Fabrics, Paperchine, PQS, and the recent acquisition of Eagle Nonwovens."

Frank added that "being asked to lead AstenJohnson is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I am excited to get started. The needs of our customers are varied and demanding. We have an enormous opportunity to serve them in new and different ways. We must be fierce advocates for our customers, work every day to exceed their expectations, and continuously earn their trust."

AstenJohnson produces paper machine clothing, specialty fabrics, filaments, and drainage equipment for the global paper industry.