CHANDLER, AZ -- Rogers Corp. today announced Bruce D. Hoechner, president and chief executive, will retire, effective Dec. 31. Rogers' board of directors plans to appoint Colin Gouveia, senior vice president and general manager of Rogers’ Elastomeric Material Solutions business unit, to succeed him.

Since June 2019, Gouveia has led the EMS unit, which focuses on key markets including EV/HEV, mass transit, portable electronics and general industrial. He has more than three decades of cross-functional experience in the specialty chemical and materials manufacturing industries. Prior to joining Rogers, he served as vice president and general manager of Eastman Chemical’s global Chemical Intermediates business unit, where he created the organizational structure, mission, vision and strategy to drive revenue growth and profitability. He has also held global leadership positions with Dow Chemical, Rohm and Haas, and Imperial Chemical Industries. He has an MBA from Villanova and a bachelor's in biology from Norwich University.

Hoechner will remain a member of the board and act in an advisory capacity at the company until Mar. 31, 2023.

In a press release, Peter C. Wallace, chairman, Rogers, said, “Bruce has been instrumental in establishing Rogers as a global leader in innovative advanced materials-based solutions used in electric vehicles, ADAS and other fast-growing markets. His efforts have positioned Rogers to deliver long-term growth for our shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. We thank Bruce for his many contributions and steadfast leadership over the past 11 years and wish him all the best in his retirement.

“Colin’s appointment represents the culmination of the Board’s long-term CEO succession planning process. We are thankful to have a proven leader and clear choice for our next CEO in Colin, who brings more than 30 years of experience in the specialty chemical and materials manufacturing industries. Since joining Rogers in 2019, he has provided leadership across the organization and transformed EMS to take full advantage of fast-growing markets like electric vehicles. The board has tremendous confidence in the company’s future under Colin’s leadership.”

Hoechner said, “It has been a privilege to lead Rogers, and I am deeply proud of all that the company and its employees have accomplished during my tenure. Having worked closely with Colin, I have seen first-hand his strategic leadership, in-depth knowledge of our best-in-class solutions and clear understanding of the market opportunities ahead, not only in EMS, but across all of our global operations. The future for Rogers is bright and I look forward to its continued success."

Gouveia said, “Rogers is an incredibly special organization, and I am honored to be named its next CEO. I look forward to executing on our proven strategy and building on our track record of innovation and leadership in key markets to accelerate revenue growth and generate value for our shareholders and other stakeholders. With our talented employees across the globe, I am extremely confident in our ability to capitalize on dynamic and fast-moving opportunities. I appreciate the Board’s vote of confidence, as well as Bruce’s ongoing support through this transition. Together, we will work to execute flawlessly for our customers and deliver enhanced value for all our stakeholders.”