Libbey Inc. announced that its board of directors has named Michael (Mike) P. Bauer as the Company’s next chief executive officer, effective March 25, 2019. Bauer was also appointed to the Company’s board of directors effective March 25, 2019. William (Bill) A. Foley, Libbey’s current CEO and chairman of the board, will retire as CEO effective March 24, 2019, but will remain with the Company as executive chairman of the board.
“The board of directors is excited to welcome Mike Bauer to Libbey Inc.,” said John Orr, Libbey’s lead independent director. “As part of Libbey’s succession planning process, which has been underway for some time, we undertook an extensive search and our board believes that Mike is the ideal candidate to succeed Bill.
“Mike’s extensive experience and track record of success leading strategy, growth and margin expansion in multi-channel, global consumer product organizations are a strong fit for Libbey. In addition, Mike’s considerable knowledge of finance, supply chain, marketing, manufacturing and e-commerce will complement our team and help us continue to drive profitable growth, operational excellence and organizational excellence.
“We are confident that Mike, working together with our strong management team, will help us leverage and expand upon our position as the world’s leading global glass tableware manufacturer.”
“I’m truly excited to be joining Libbey and believe that our organization has a tremendous opportunity to build upon the foundational elements that Bill and the team have put in place over the last few years,” said Bauer. “I look forward to working with the executive leadership team and the board of directors to continue building a strong, dynamic and agile organization that’s focused on meeting the needs of our end-users, channel partners and shareholders.
“The global consumer goods market continues to undergo a transformational shift as changes in consumer preferences and channels require fresh ideas and decisive leadership to effectively navigate this environment. I believe Libbey’s leadership position across its key markets, and the breadth of investments that Bill and the team have underway, position the organization well to leverage our strengths and competitive advantages to create strong value in the future.”
Commenting on Mr. Foley’s leadership over the past three years, Mr. Orr said, “Bill has overseen a critical period in Libbey’s commercial transformation, including the creation of our highly successful and expanding e-commerce platform. Further, he reinvigorated a culture of product innovation that is now driving creativity at Libbey, delivering a wealth of new product choices to our customers each year.
“The environment that Bill has guided our Company through during this time period, particularly the competitive changes and challenges taking place within our industry, has not been easy. His leadership has helped to maintain and grow our leading industry position and we want to thank Bill for his hard work and dedication. We are also glad that we’ll continue to have his insights and contributions as an ongoing member of our board of directors.”
Mr. Bauer has more than 30 years of experience with leading consumer product manufacturers. Most recently, he served as president of The Master Lock Company (the Security segment of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.), from 2014 to 2018. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of the global consumer goods manufacturer, including the marketing and distribution of locks, safes and other mechanical, electromechanical and digital security products.
Prior to joining The Master Lock Company, Mr. Bauer served as president of the U.S. business of Moen, also a Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. subsidiary and an international manufacturer, marketer and distributor of residential and commercial faucets, sinks, bath accessories and bath safety products. Mr. Bauer joined Moen as corporate controller in 1997 and held successive roles of increasing responsibility, including director of marketing and product development CSI and vice president and general manager of Moen’s retail business, before assuming the role of president of the U.S. business in 2011.
Mr. Bauer holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Cleveland State University and an MBA in Finance from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.