Gutwein to retire from BraunAbility; Staci Kroon to succeed as president and CEO

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Published: Monday, 13 November 2017 21:41

WINAMAC - Nick Gutwein, who has led BraunAbility since 2008, has announced his retirement to BraunAbility’s board of directors.

The board has selected Staci Kroon as the new president and CEO, and she will assume the role on Nov. 27. She will also serve as a director for BraunAbility.

Kroon comes to BraunAbility from an extensive and successful career with the Eaton Corporation, a $20 billion global technology leader in power management solutions. With an educational background in both finance and engineering, she earned key leadership roles throughout her tenure at Eaton, including assignments within the U.S. and the Netherlands. Most recently Kroon was appointed executive vice president of Eaton Business Systems. She comes to BraunAbility well versed in the automotive industry, having previously held the position of president of Eaton’s Automotive North America business.

“Ralph Braun founded our company 45 years ago with a passion to share the same mobility solutions he developed for himself with other wheelchair users to improve their quality of life,” says outgoing president Gutwein. “Our team has been dedicated to carrying on his legacy ever since, leading the mobility industry with innovative products and world-class quality. While I have elected to pursue my work in the ministry full-time, I am confident we have chosen the right successor in Staci to continue our mission of ‘Making Life a Moving Experience’ for those with mobility challenges.”

Keith McLoughlin, chairman of the board of directors of BraunAbility says, “Nick has been an incredibly strong leader, and under his direction BraunAbility has experienced significant growth and innovation and has strengthened our position as the global leader in automotive mobility products for people with disabilities. His integrity and commitment is beyond reproach, and we are fortunate that Nick has agreed to continue his service to BraunAbility as a member of our board of directors.

“The board could not be more pleased that Staci Kroon has accepted the role of president and CEO,” continued McLoughlin. “She is the right leader to drive our strategies around growth, consumer focus, relevant innovation, and operational excellence.”

About BraunAbility

BraunAbility is the world's leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts in the mobility industry. Founded in 1972 by Ralph Braun, the corporation was built on the age-old adage, "necessity is the mother of invention." Ralph Braun was a young man who used a wheelchair and had no reliable transportation to and from his place of work. He built his first wheelchair accessible vehicle in 1972, and since then the company has grown into the most well-known and trusted name in the mobility industry, bringing independence to millions of individuals across the world.