Colfax’s president and CEO Clay Kiefaber, 56, has left the company in order to serve as chief executive officer of ESAB, a welding and cutting business acquired by Colfax in January. The acquisition of ESAB nearly tripled Colfax’s total business and increased its total revenue to $4 billion.

Steven Simms, also 56, was named as the new CEO of Colfax. Simms currently serves as director on Colfax’s board. With over 20 years of senior executive experience, Simms was executive vice president of Danaher Corp. for 11 years and previously worked at Black & Decker Corp. as president of its European operations.

Kiefaber was named CEO of Colfax in 2010 after spending 20 years at Masco Corp. He will remain company director and executive vice president of Colfax.

If you are interested in learning more about how executive recruitment services can help you, contact the executive search and management consulting firm Construction Hunters today at 214-989-6846.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has recently promoted two of its existing executives into two newly created executive positions. The home improvement retailer created the the positions of chief customer officer and chief operating officer.

Gregory Bridgeford, 57, has been promoted from executive vice president of business development to chief customer officer. He will be in charge of Lowe’s customer service and its effort to differentiate itself from competitors.

Rick Damron, 49, has been promoted from executive vice president of store operations to chief operating officer. Damron will now be in charge of overseeing the company’s service, sales, and other store operations. The promotions will officially go into effect on March 5.

If your company is searching for new executives, contact the executive search and management consulting specialists at Construction Hunters at 214-989-6846.

Chrysler Group, LLC announced last week that it has named a new Senior Vice President of Engineering after the existing VP took over as Senior Vice President of Purchasing and Supplier Quality for Dan Knott.

Knott retired after 24 years with the company due to health problems. Scott Kunselman has taken his position, leaving the Senior Vice President of Engineering chair open. Chrysler Group promoted Mark Chernoby to the Senior Vice President position.

Chernoby will continue to serve as the NAFTA region’s Product Committee Coordinator as well as his responsibilities at the Fiat-Chrysler Group Executive Council. Chernoby has worked for Chrysler since 1985 in various positions relating to engineering and powertrain.

If your company is looking for a new executive engineer, contact the engineering recruiting professionals of Construction Hunters today by calling  214-989-6846.

Best Buy announced this week that it has created a search committee to find a new CEO to replace Brian Dunn. Dunn abruptly resigned on Tuesday after the company began an internal investigation into his personal conduct. He had been CEO since 2009.

Best Buy said it will conduct a global search, including internal and external candidates. Mike Mikan, 39, who is currently serving as interim CEO is among the candidates for the position. The struggling electronics chain says the search could take up to nine months.

Expert analysts believe Best Buy will have trouble finding an experienced CEO that will be able to manage the major transitions the company is about to go through. Last fiscal year, Best Buy lost $1.23 billion.

If your company is looking for a new executive, consider hiring the executive search and management consulting specialists at the firm of Construction Hunters. To learn more about what Construction Hunters can do for you, call 214-989-6846 to speak with an experienced member of our staff.

Last week MTS Systems Corp. announced it has hired Jeffrey Graves as the company’s new CEO. He will start his new position on May 7 where he will also serve as a member on the board of directors.

Graves is taking over for William Murray, who served as interim CEO since August after former CEO Laura Hamilton left the company after 12 years. He has previously worked as President and CEO of C Technologies and currently serves on the board at Teleflex Inc. and Hexcel Corp.

The Eden Prairie, Minnestoa-based company specializes in making mechanical testing systems for companies that make products such as farming equipment and cars.

If you are interested in learning more about how executive recruitment services can help you, contact the executive search and management consulting firm Construction Hunters today at 214-989-6846.

This week RoadSafe Traffic Systems, the country’s largest provider of traffic safety products and services, appointed David L. Myers as the company’s executive chairman.

Myers, who has more than 35 years experience in the construction, engineering, and logistics industries, will oversee RoadSafe’s strategic growth and performance and will serve on the company’s Board of Directors.

RoadSafe Traffic Systems provides services such as temporary traffic control and pavement markings. Working in the private as well as public sector in the heavy highway industry, RoadSafe also provides barricade rentals, traffic control, pavement marking and removal services, and sign manufacturing/installation.

If you are in the construction industry and looking to recruit an individual for an executive position, contact the executive search and management consulting firm  Construction Hunters by calling 214-989-6846 today.

President and CEO of Highmark Inc., Pennsylvania’s largest health insurer, was fired last week after he was charged with misdemeanor simple assault and misdemeanor criminal trespassing. Kenneth R. Melani, 58, had held the position of CEO and president of Highmark, Inc. since 2003.

According to police, Melani was involved in a fist fight with his mistress’ estranged husband and reportedly said he would have killed them both if the police were not there. Over the weekend, the company’s board of directors decided to terminate Melani due to his actions.

Highmark’s board chairman, J. Robert Baum, was the acting CEO while Melani was on unpaid leave following his arrest. Highmark has not announced who will take over as president and CEO.

If your company is looking for a new executive, contact the executive search and management consulting firm Construction Hunters by calling 214-989-6846 today.

Sears Holding Corp. announced last week that it has hired David Lukes as the new president of real estate development. Lukes, 42, was previously the president and CEO of Mall Properties Inc. as well as chief operating officer for Kimco Realty Corp.

Sears, which operates Sears and Kmart stores, has been struggling compared to its competitors and announced its plan to close 100 to 120 stores this year. It has been able to stay afloat due to is massive real estate holdings and is expected to make a profit by selling some if its properties that are no longer used as stores.

With Lukes as president, Sears plans on redeveloping some if its existing real estate as well as selling property through its leasing and licensed business program.

If your real estate firm is looking for a new executive, contact the executive search and management consulting firm of Construction Hunters today at 214-989-6846.

Last week Caterpillar, Inc., the largest heavy machinery maker in the world, announced that its vice president, chairman, and CEO of Caterpillar Japan Ltd. will retire this year after 32 years of service.

Ali Bahaj, who has been Caterpillar’s vice president since 2002, will step down officially on May 1st. Noriyuki Takeuchi will fill his shoes as country manager and president for Caterpillar Japan Ltd.

The Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar in the United States, Douglas Oberhelman, announced this week that the company expects to have another record year in 2012. In January 2011, it had a forecast profit of 25 percent. Peoria will invest $4 billion in capital expenditures, up from $2.6 billion in 2011.

If you are interested in learning more about how executive recruitment services can help you, contact the executive search and management consulting experts of Construction Hunters today at 214-989-6846.

PepsiCo may be in the process of looking for a new CEO after analysts suspect that current CEO Indra Nooyi will step down amid investor discontent.

The second-largest soda maker has rehired Brian Cornell, a former executive, as CEO of PepsiCo Americas Foods, which includes businesses Frito-Lay and Quaker. Cornell is the former CEO of Wal-Mart Stores’ Sam’s Club and Michael’s, as well as executive vice president of Safeway. Before leaving Pepsi in 2004, he was the president of its Tropicana brand.

Cornell is taking over the position of John Compton, who has been named president and will now go on to oversee Pepsi’s global operations and marketing.

If your business needs help recruiting for executive positions, contact the executive search and management consulting professionals of Construction Hunters today by calling 214-989-6846.