Citation Corp. has named Daniel C. Lukas as its new chairman and Cary B. Wood its chief operating officer, effective immediately. Former chief executive Ed Buker has resigned from the company to pursue other opportunities, Citation stated.
Based in Birmingham, AL, privately held Citation produces cast and machined components for automotive, heavy truck, construction, agricultural, and commercial industrial markets, at 12 plants in Alabama (four), Texas, Indiana (two), Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin (three).
The company has formed a new executive committee consisting of Lukas, Wood, and v.p. - Sales and Marketing Chuck Pestow, which be responsible for executing Citation's strategies and business plan.
Wood now has responsibility for the organization's day-to-day operations, working with the executive committee. He has been Citation's senior vice president of operations since last year, and joined the company in 2004 as vice president for its Light Metals and Machining Group. His prior experience includes executive positions at various companies, including vice president of North and South American Operations for Formica Corp.; exec. vice president of operations for Elkay Corp; and a long tenure at General Motors.
Lukas is replacing William E. Redmond, Jr. as chairman. Redmond is president and CEO of GenTek Inc., a chemical manufacturer, and stepped down from Citation's board to focus on other interests.
Lukas is a managing director at GSC Group — an investment group that became Citation's largest shareholder earlier this year. Lukas joined GSC in 2003, and also serves as a director of Precision Partners Inc., DTN Corp., Cherokee International Corp., and Color Spot Nurseries Inc.
"We are pleased with the progress Citation has made this year and with the operating improvements that Cary Wood has achieved throughout his tenure with the company," stated Lukas. "We congratulate Cary on his promotion and Chuck on joining the executive committee. I look forward to working with them and the rest of Citation's management team to continue aggressively implementing the company's key strategic initiatives and long-term business plan."