Kadant announced a board-adopted succession plan that will make Michael C. Colwell president and chief operating officer effective October 1, 2026, and president, chief executive officer and a director effective January 2, 2027. Jeffrey L. Powell will continue as president through September 30, 2026, and as chief executive officer through January 2, 2027, when he becomes executive chairman of the board. Jonathan W. Painter, the current chairman, will cease to serve as a director and chairman on January 2, 2027. Colwell has been a senior vice president since December 2024, was a vice president from August 2022 to December 2024, and is responsible for the company's Industrial Processing segment; he previously served as president of Kadant Carmanah Design, a division of subsidiary Kadant Canada, from 2013 to 2019, and as president and chief executive officer of Carmanah Design and Manufacturing from April 2010 until its acquisition by the company in November 2013. Kadant said the plan is designed to retain Powell's services for one year following the appointment of his successor as CEO.
Kadant IncBoard-adopted CEO succession plan names Michael Colwell as next CEO; a leadership transition with no stated financial or operational impact.
