Ladish President/CEO Kerry Woody Retires

Ladish Co. Inc. president and CEO Kerry L. Woody will retire, he has announced. “After more than fourteen years of leading Ladish, I have decided that the time is right to retire. I leave Ladish knowing the successful course we have charted will be followed by future management teams. It has been a privilege to have been a part of the proud 104-year heritage of Ladish and to work with its many dedicated employees.” Woody had been associated with Ladish for 34 years, and under his administration the company made a series of strategic acquisitions. The directors of the Cudahy, WI, producer of forgings and investment castings credited him with contributing to Ladish’s “long-term growth and helped it maintain its profitability despite the challenges of the business cycle.” The board named Ladish Forging president Gary J. Vroman as the corporation’s new president and chief executive officer. Vroman, 49, has headed Ladish Co.’s largest operating subsidiary since early 2008, and has held various management roles at Ladish for over 25 years. Vroman holds a B.S. in engineering from the University of Illinois and a M.S. in Engineering Management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The board also chose Wayne E. Larsen, currently v.p. - Law/Finance of Ladish, to hold a seat on the board.