Lippert announced Jan. 25 the promotion of Ryan Smith to the newly established group president role, with responsibility over the company’s North American OEM businesses.
Smith previously was the senior vice president of sales and operations. In his new role, he will oversee all operational direction for Lippert’s RV, marine and adjacent industry OEM companies in North America.
The company noted the divisions include more than 9,000 team members and produce $2 billion in annual sales.
“As Lippert drives toward $3 billion in sales, we need to continue to evolve our structure as we have frequently done over these years of exciting growth,” President and CEO Jason Lippert said. “Ryan has been a rock for Lippert’s executive leadership, our team members and our customers over the last 12 years. Today, he leads the charge for over 9,000, and growing, North American OEM team members and is doing an absolutely amazing job.”
Lippert said Smith plays a key role in acquisition selection and integration into North American OEM businesses, including how and where the company adds capacity, product evolution and divisional goal and team structure development .
“He is great at holding our business units accountable to produce great results and execute our strategic plan,” Lippert said. “Ryan and his operations teams did a phenomenal job managing our manufacturing operations and team members through this past year, which will probably be remembered as the most challenging year in our time.”
As group president, the company said Smith will be fundamental to Lippert’s growth, both organically and through acquisitions.
“I am honored and humbled by this promotion and would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of my mentors, team members and business partners who have supported me throughout my career,” Smith said. “While the RV and marine industries are not small by any means, they are very tight-knit families that I have had the privilege of being a part of for my entire career.”
Smith’s background is in RV and marine. He joined Lippert in 2008 through the Seating Technologies acquisition and eventually was named sales and operations VP over Lippert’s RV and marine interior divisions. The company noted Smith helped grow a business segment that started at $30 million in sales in 2008 and is at more than $750 million today.
“I have had the unique experience of being part of Lippert’s first period of rapid growth and expansion since 2008,” Smith said. “Today and beyond, I believe we are embarking on a new kind of growth, equally as exciting, by expanding our business beyond Elkhart County across North America. We have spent the recent years really building the strongest and most capable teams that we have ever had, and we are truly prepared for this next phase of Lippert’s evolution. I look forward to continuing our operational growth while providing additional speed through advanced manufacturing improvements, processes and automation, all while providing exceptional customer service.”
Lippert acknowledged Smith for his ability to lead by example, paired with his contributions to the company and industries.
“Ryan is an excellent representation of our core values and sets the tone for our culture with our teams, and he will lead our OEM manufacturing teams through this next period where the RV, marine and adjacent markets may see tremendous growth due to the record demand for these products,” Lippert said. “I’m very proud to have watched Ryan’s evolution and to be leading alongside him, and I am truly grateful for the value he adds to the Lippert organization.”
