Northwest Hardwoods Inc. (NWH) has named Nathan Jeppson as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman effective January 7, 2019, and will report directly to the Board of Directors of NWH. TJ Rosengarth will remain on the board of NWH to ensure a smooth transition for the business.
Nathan brings significant leadership experience to NWH, most recently serving as President of Shell Chemical LP and General Manager of a multi-billion-dollar division of Shell with leadership positions in a broad range of basic and intermediate chemicals. Previously, Nathan led Shell’s synthetic alcohol and ethoxylates (surfactants) business. Prior to Shell, Nathan was promoted rapidly through the Dow Chemical Company and served in a variety of significant leadership positions across markets in North America, China, the Middle East, South East Asia, and Europe.
Nathan’s strong general management capabilities are underpinned by significant successes across several businesses in designing and implementing business improvement initiatives, accelerating product innovation capabilities and developing top-level commercial talent. He has a demonstrated track record of shifting commodity-oriented businesses to strategic marketing-led organizations focused on innovation and collaboration with customers globally.
“We are excited to have Nathan Jeppson join NWH as its CEO and for him to provide leadership to the number one global manufacturer of hardwood lumber,” said Edmund Feeley, a NWH board director and partner at Littlejohn & Co. “Nathan’s track record of success has been driven by his ability to develop and implement innovative strategies for a range of complex businesses. He has remarkable business acumen, particularly in commercial areas including product innovation, customer development, and industrial marketing strategy and we are confident he will be a great complement to the NWH team.”
Nathan has served as a director of Houston Habitat for Humanity and a mentor in Junior Achievement’s Junior Business program. Nathan and his family will be relocating near NWH’s corporate headquarters in Tacoma, WA.
TJ Rosengarth will be pursuing other opportunities outside the hardwood lumber industry. Mr. Feeley added, “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank TJ for his contributions toward making NWH the clear global leader in hardwood lumber over the last eight years and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
About Northwest Hardwoods
Northwest Hardwoods, Inc. has approximately 1,800 employees and is the leading manufacturer of high-quality hardwood lumber in North America. It manufactures and sells 20 species of North American hardwood lumber, including Alder, Oak, Maple, Cherry, Yellow Poplar, and Walnut. Operations include a network of sixteen primary sawmills, eight concentration yards, four remanufacturing/service centers, and regional warehouse locations to serve our customer base.
The company carries the broadest selection of products available to the industry making Northwest the preferred supplier for all their product needs. For more information, please visit www.northwesthardwoods.com or call 253-348-2732.
