Leggett & Platt announced the retirement of John Meyer, vice president of commercial rod and wire. A WAI Life Member, he served the company for 24 years, having previously worked for 22 years for Keystone Steel & Wire. His function will be assumed by Nick Avise, who has 20 years of wire industry experience. He joined the company as a sales representative in 2005 and was promoted to marketing/sales development manager in 2014, then to national sales manager in 2017 and then director of sales in 2021. He holds an MBA from Georgia Colleges & State University and a M.S. degree in chemistry from Missouri Southern State University. Based in Carthage, Missouri, USA, Leggett & Platt’s product lines include steel wire.

 American Wire Group (AWG) reported two promotions. Nada Filipovic was named vice president of marketing and communications. She joined AWG in 2020 as a marketing manager and previously worked for more than 15 years for Nexans. She has an MBA in international business from Niagara University and a B.A. degree in economics from McMaster University. Marketing Communications Specialist Kristina Borojevic, who joined the company in 2022, was promoted to director of PR and communications. She holds a B.A. degree in international relations and affairs from McMaster University. Based in Miami, Florida, the American Wire Group makes wire and cable products for utilities and renewable energy.

Keith D’Amato has joined Dranetz in distribution sales. He most recently worked for Sjogren Industries, where he served for nearly eight years in sales and marketing. Prior to that he worked for 17 years for Ripley Tools. He holds a degree in business and marketing from Fairfield University and an MBA in management from Albertus Magnus College. Based in Edison, New Jersey, a division of GMC- Instruments Group, Dranetz is a global manufacturer of intelligent monitoring solutions for electrical demand and energy and power quality requirements.

Peter Weimann has been named director of engineering at Amphenol Fiber Optic Products. He most recently was CTO for HFCL Limited, where he worked for three years. He previously worked for 23 years for OFS as director, optical cable R&D, North America; technical manager and senior R&D engineer. He holds a PhD degree in materials engineering from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. degree in materials engineering and organizational management from the University of Pennsylvania. Based in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA, Amphenol Fiber Optic Products, a division of Amphenol Corporation, provides solutions for fiber optic interconnect applications.

Emtelle has named Beni Blell president of its USA Division, tasked with strengthening the company’s presence in the American market. He has more over 30 years of experience in the optical communications industry, having held senior leadership roles in other globally recognized organizations. He will oversee operations and sales of Emtelle’s U.S. manufacturing and testing facility in Fletcher, North Carolina, which is a cornerstone of Emtelle’s “Made in America” initiative. Based in Fletcher, North Carolina, Emtelle USA is part of the U.K.’s Emtelle, which is a global manufacturer of pre-connectorized, blown-fiber cabling and ducted network solutions.

 
Obituary

Industry veteran Richard “Dick” Hall, the retired president and CEO of Champlain Cable Corporation, died Dec. 30, 2024, at age 76. Hall served for 20 years with the company, rising from vice president of sales and marketing to CEO. During that period, he led the company through a turnaround that saw four acquisitions completed, the expansion of one location from 200,000 to 500,000 sq ft, and a 10-fold increase in revenue. After his retirement, he continued to serve as an advisor through 2023. Hall’s prior experience in the wire and cable industry included senior vice president at Electro-Wire, vice president sales & marketing at the Brand-Rex Division of BICC, general sales manager at Harbour Industries, sales manager at A.E. Petsche and his first position, industrial sales, at ITT Surprenant. Throughout his career, Hall was known for his hard work, strong relationships and innovative solutions to turning companies around, but also for having an incredible sense of humor, a love of the industry and its people, and for mentoring many who also now hold high level positions in the wire and cable industry. A WAI Life Member, Hall was a 2004 recipient of the Wire Cable Manufacturers Alliance’s Distinguished Career Award. He was a former WCMA president and was one of the organization’s founding Board members when it was incorporated in 2004. Hall held an MBA degree from Northeastern University-Boston, a BSBA degree from John Carroll University-Cleveland and had completed senior level executive management programs at Harvard, Boston University, University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan and University of Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter, Emilie; sons Andrew and Nicholas; and six grandchildren: Lily, Hannah, Tyler, Parker, Makayla, and Stockton.

Tom Herd has joined Radcliff Wire as vice president of sales and marketing. He previously led similar teams for several companies that supply engineered products and components to OEMs and manufacturers in several key industrial markets including automotive, aerospace, and medical. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He replaces Scott Kirkpatrick, who joined the company in 2003, and has retired. Based in Bristol, Connecticut, Radcliff Wire  manufactures custom shaped wire for industries including aerospace, automotive and others.

Italy’s SAMP announced a series of organizational changes that have taken effect. Reporting to SAMP CEO Jouni Heinonen, will be: Mattia Baccini, vice president, who will lead the Global Machine Division, overseeing operations (Bentivoglio, Italy. Changzhou, China. and Cortinovis do Brasil, Brazil); Davide Pasqualotto, vice president, will lead the Global Customer Service Division, providing rapid response and tailored solutions and building lasting customer relationships worldwide; Valentina Pozzobon, vice president, will lead the Group’s Corporate Functions, driving strategic initiatives and sustainable growth to ensure operational excellence and financial strength, and building robust corporate infrastructure to support global expansion and market leadership. Based in Bentivoglio, Italy, SAMP supplies a wide range of equipment for wire and cable production.

 Prysmian has announced a new organizational structure  that will see the following people designated as follows. Under Business Segments: transmission will be led by Raul Gil, a neLw appointment; power grid will be led by Cinzia Farisè; electrification will be led Cristiana Scelza; and digital solutions will be led by Frederick Persson. Under Regions, North America will be led by Andrea Pirondini; Europe will be by Marcello Del Brenna, a new appointment; ATAM will be led by Giacomo Sofia, a new appointment; MEART will be led by Erkan Aydogdu; and APAC will be led by Hamavand Shroff. Under Operations and Group Functions, operations will led by Javier Arata, a new appointment; finance, administration, control and IT will be led by Pier Francesco Facchini; HR and organization will be led by Francesco Tutino; strategy & M&A will be led by Iuri Longhi; sustainability, investor relations and communication will be led by Maria Cristina Bifulco; risk management and compliance will be led by Alessandro Nespoli; corporate affairs will be led by Jacopo Zirulia; innovation and R&D will be led by Srinivas Siripurapu; and internal audit will be led by Paola Pulidori. Based in Italy, Prysmian is the world’s largest wire and cable company.

Nader Saad has been named CFO of TiniFiber®. He is tasked with driving the company’s strategic initiatives, including expanding its product portfolio, enhancing its presence in the North American market and advancing its innovative technology. He has more than a decade of experience in senior financial leadership roles. Nader served as CFO and Senior Vice President of Finance at RPM, a leading logistics and supply chain firm operating across North America and Europe. He also held the role of Financial Controller at RJ, a multinational logistics company, and has experience in the fiber optics sector through his tenure at Rocket Fiber. Based in Lindenhurst, New York, TiniFiber® manufactures  patented Micro Armor Fiber™ optical cabling solutions.

Obituary

Prof. Etienne Aernoudt, a prolific technical paper author, researcher and university professor who specialized in steel wire research and won WAI’s 2009 Mordica Memorial Award, died Dec. 6 at age 86.

A native of Belgium, Aernoudt earned an MSc degree in metallurgical engineering and a diploma in nuclear sciences at Catholic University of Leuven (CUL) in 1962. In 1964, he joined Bekaert Steel Wire Corporation (Bekaert) and became manager of its metal forming research center in Zwevegem, Belgium. He left Bekaert and continued his scientific training at the Westfalische Technische Hochschule, where he earned his PhD degree in sciences in 1966. He later returned to Bekaert. He started doing research work at CUL, where he was an assistant professor. In 1970, he became an associate professor, working in the Faculty of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at CUL. In 1974, he became a full professor, and in 1987 he was named rector of the Technical University of Leuven, the post he occupied for six years.

While working for Bekaert, Aernoudt was credited for producing the first hair-thin stainless steel fibers (10 micrometer). The scope of his wire research was wide. He dealt with cold deformations and metal texture as well as technological issues as extrusion, powder metallurgy, shape memory alloys, composite materials and biomaterials. He was an author on some 250 papers published in scientific journals about wire theory and technology, and nine books.

Aernoudt served in roles in multiple research organizations, including as chairman of the Metallurgical Society of the Royal Institution of Flemish Engineers (1976-1980); chairman of a working group on Neo-Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy (1982-1987); the International Conference of Textures of Materials (1988–1993), the Flemish Council for Industrial Scientific Research (1988–1991); the General Assembly of the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (1987– 1993); and chairman of a working group of the Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Science (1997-1999). He retired from CUL in 2003.

Beyond professional organizations, Aernoudt cooperated closely with colleagues and was praised for having a remarkable capacity for discovering talented people and contributing to their professional development. He was described as a person of powerful intellect, kindness and a very good sense of humor. He was also close to members of WAI’s Poland Chapter, especially Jan Pilarczyk, a retired professor at Częstochowa University who had nominated him for the Mordica Memorial Award in 200

Rainbow Rubber announced that Jonathan Rufe will be North American Sales Manager, effective Jan. 1, 2025. He joined the company in 2014, covering sales in New England and Canada, and thrived in those territories. Throughout his tenure at Rainbow, he has held many other responsibilities, such as marketing, trade show production and new product development. Most recently, he hired and managed agents in Canada and Mexico to expand those markets while maintaining his own territory and being a product specialist. He holds a B.A. degree in political science and government from Lafayette College, and recently completed an MBA program at Lehigh University.

Andree Cziczkat has joined Proton Products as global metals market manager. He most recently was account manager metal EMEA for Nordson Company, where he started out in 2008 as a regional sales manager EMEA. Prior to that he worked for four years for Iris GmbH and three years for Elco Pro GmbH. He holds an HF degree, electro-optic, medical technics, from Ruhr University Bochum. Based in the U.K., Proton Products Group is a leading manufacturer of instrumentation and control equipment for use in industrial production.

Amy Theobald Poras has been promoted to sales manager - east region at GEON Performance Solutions. She joined the company in 2021 as a wire and cable sales team leader. She previously worked as an application development manager for Coventus Polymers, as market development manager for wire and cable for Nexeo Plastics, sales manager southeast market for The Chemical Company and customer success director for Vendavo. Based in Westlake, Ohio, GEON Performance Solutions supplies PVC compounds, polyolefin products and engineered polymers.

Matteo Nascetti has been named General Manager Italy for SAMP. He has two decades of experience in the field of automated machinery and precision mechanics and is known for his strong focus on enhancing production processes and successfully integrating new technologies to improve corporate efficiency. He has worked extensively in developing economies, optimizing processes and driving local growth. Based in Bologna, Italy, the SAMP Group is a global supplier of wire and cable machinery.

ICE Cable Systems recently announced the filling of two positions. Jay Heffernan was named vice president of sales, East Coast. He has more than 30 years of security business expertise. He began his career as a manufacturer’s representative, managing key territories in New England and upstate New York, where his efforts contributed to company growth ahead of its acquisition. Amberly Rhyne was named the new East Coast regional sales representative. She has commercial ProAV sales experience in the CEDIA market that includes her working as a regional sales manager for Herman ProAV. Based in Austin, Texas, ICE Cable Systems makes low-voltage wire and cable products for residential and commercial channels.

Chris Adams has joined RF Industries, Inc., as a national key account manager - integrators. He has 30 years of experience in technical sales and marketing. He most recently was MNO sales director- East Coast for Communication Technology Services. Past employers included Huber + Suher, where he was a business unit manager for wireless products; Radio Frequency Systems, where he was global/NA product manager; Amphenol TimesFiber, where he was director of business development; and RFS, where he was Northeast district sales manager. Based in San Diego, California, RF Industries manufactures a broad range of interconnect products that include cables and wire harnesses.

Obituary

Carl P. Sjogren, the owner and president of Sjogren Industries, died from cancer on Nov. 2, 2024, at age 65.

Carl Sjogren joined the family company after graduating from Worcester Academy. His industry story, however, started back in 1888, when an eight-year-old Swedish immigrant, Oscar Sjogren, came to the U.S., ultimately settling in Worcester, Massachusetts, working as a machinist in the local wire mills. In 1927, after working at American Steel and Wire, U.S. Steel and Wickwire Spencer Steel, he started Sjogren and Sons in his two-car garage. The company thrived by supporting the domestic wire industries until his passing in 1957.

After inheriting the business from their father, Oscar’s sons, Richard and Walter, continued to grow and expand the company. The name changed to Sjogren Tool and Machine, and it continued its growth through the 60s and 70s with Richard’s sons—Richard and Robert—manning the helm. At this time, Sjogren carried a workforce of 150 employees in five separate divisions.

The recession of the early 80s forced Sjogren into bankruptcy court and it was taken over by MFA. In 1986, Carl Sjogren, then 27, bought the wire tooling division back. The initial purchase consisted of blueprints, customer lists, inventory and special tooling. He led the company through a tremendous period of growth, expanding sales into Europe, and later launched a new plant, Sjogren Manufacturing, Inc., in Worcester.

Today, the company’s machinery, tooling and accessories are sold worldwide with distributors located in Europe, South America, Asia, and Mexico. During the past 10 years, Carl Sjogren worked with his team to develop 12 new products to launch into the market over time to aid in efficiency and ease of use by workers on wire-drawing lines. He continued to work as he could, still contributing within a week of his passing.

Carl was predeceased by his father, Richard C. Sjogren. Survivors include his mother, Cora; his wife, Cheryl; his son, Dylan; his brother, Buddy; his sister, Wendy; and nieces and nephews. 

Tyler Faille has joined Hueson Wire & Cable as operations manager, responsible for the company’s production, quality, materials and facilities teams. He most recently worked for seven years for Winchester Interconnect (formerly C&M Corporation), where he served in various leadership roles, including as production manager. He holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Earlier this year, Brian Harvie joined the company as vice president of technology, responsible for product engineering, quality and IT with a focus on digital transformation. He most recently worked for Proterial Cable America for nearly four years, and prior to that worked 21 years for TE Connectivity. He holds an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Mark Reinbold has joined the company as an outside sales engineer, based out of the St. Louis region. He most recently was a territory manager for IEWC. He has 35 years of industry experience, starting out by designing wiring harnesses. He holds a B.S. degree in engineering from the University of Missouri. Based in Grafton, Massachusetts, Hueson Wire & Cable manufactures custom wire and cable solutions for multiple applications.

 David Skaggs has been promoted to North America drawing market manager at BECHEM Lubrication Technology, LLC. In 2015 he joined the company where prior to his promotion he was a technical sales and applications engineer. He worked for eight years for Superior Essex, where he had served as a senior product engineer, engineering and maintenance manager and a manufacturing manager. Prior to that he worked 11 years for Reelcraft Industries, Inc., in a range of engineering and managing positions. Based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and part of Germany’s Carl Bechem GmbH, Bechem Lubrication Technology, LLC, supplies specialty lubricants and metal-working fluids.

Craig Wire Products reported two employee hires. Octavio Franco has joined the company as its sales agent for Mexico. He has been active in the industrial market, serving as procurement director for Potencia Industrial, where he has worked for 10 years in Mexico City. He also has five years of experience in related electrical insulation working for Kobaltec, a Mexican distributor. Lori Fridlin has joined the company as its magnet wire account manager. She will focus on the transformer markets in the U.S. and Canada. She has years of experience in the magnet wire industry, including nearly three years with Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, where she was a national account manager. She holds a degree in business administration from the University of Missouri. Based in Douglasville, Georgia, Craig Wire Products manufactures magnet wire and copper wire.

Natalia Scherbakoff has been appointed chief technology officer for Orion. She most recently worked for Trinseo, a specialty materials company, where she served as the vice president of technology innovation, overseeing global research, development and technology innovation. Prior to Trinseo, she was vice president of research innovation & product lines at Plastic Omnium, a French automotive supplier, general manager of Specialty Composites and director of Global Innovation at Owens Corning. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees in macromolecular science from Case Western Reserve University, and a chemical engineering degree from Mauá Engineering University and an MBA from Getulio Vargas Foundation (Brazil). Based in Germany, Orion’s product lines include carbon black.