Hancock Lumber names next company president
Hancock Lumber, the Casco, Maine-based pro dealer, has announced executive leadership changes that will take effect at the start of next year.
Beginning in January 2020, Paul Wainman will become the new president of Hancock Lumber. Wainman will also continue to work as the company’s chief financial officer. He becomes the 8th person to serve as president of Hancock Lumber.
Current president Kevin Hancock will continue to serve as CEO and chairman of the pro dealer.
Paul Wainman
Since joining Hancock in 2016, Wainman has worked directly with every business unit in our company developing budgets, business plans, strategy, and capital reinvestments. Wainman previously served as the president of Kleinfeld Paper and William Arthur.
In a memo sent to company employees Kevin Hancock said, “Along the way, Paul has played a leading role in strengthening our cultural priorities around employee engagement, safety, and customer care. Paul has worked closely with our Board of Directors, our banks, and our shareholders. He is exceptionally well versed on the company as a whole. Paul brings passion, curiosity, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, collaboration, respect, and a competitive spirit to his work. His qualities and the company’s values are very well aligned.”
The move is part of the overall company culture and direction at Hancock Lumber, according to Kevin Hancock.
“It’s important to see this topic in the context of our shared leadership philosophy. Hancock Lumber is designed to be a place where everybody leads. Every voice in our company is important and every person on our team has a critical role. Even within our senior executive team, our leadership approach is shared,” Hancock wrote in the memo.
The executive team includes Kevin Hynes (sawmill division COO), Mark Hopkins (retail division COO), Wendy Scribner (Human Resources Director), Paul Wainman (CFO), Erin Plummer (Marketing & Communications Director), Jim Buchanan (BOD Vice Chair), and Hanock.
Kevin Hancock
“As an executive team we have, for years, made the important decisions collaboratively and collectively. In our work we don’t get hung up on titles. We each know our roles and we just help each other and try to make the best possible decisions for the future of the company,” Hancock said.
“Much of that work revolves around the highly effective leadership of our COO’s. None of that is going to change. So while on one level, Paul becoming President is a big moment, on another level it’s a subtle change by design. Our executive team is staying in tact and our executive processes will continue as they are,” he added.
Hancock began working at the company in 1991 and has been president since 1998. Shortly afterward, he was named CEO and chairman.
“I love this company and plan to keep working and supporting our efforts for a long time to come. My connection to the company is a lifetime affair. I started here when I was 25 and I expect to be here in some capacity when I am 75,” Hancock said. “I am not retiring, nor am I getting ready to retire. I’m just evolving my role and I remain super excited about our future.”
2019 has been a dynamic year for Hancock Lumber. In addition to the announcing the new direction of its leadership, the pro dealer moved into a new corporate headquarters in May and broke ground on its 10th location in Saco, Maine this past August.
Last month, Hancock was named a “Best Place to Work in Maine” for the 6th year in a row.
Beginning in January 2020, Paul Wainman will become the new president of Hancock Lumber. Wainman will also continue to work as the company’s chief financial officer. He becomes the 8th person to serve as president of Hancock Lumber.
Current president Kevin Hancock will continue to serve as CEO and chairman of the pro dealer.
Paul WainmanSince joining Hancock in 2016, Wainman has worked directly with every business unit in our company developing budgets, business plans, strategy, and capital reinvestments. Wainman previously served as the president of Kleinfeld Paper and William Arthur.
In a memo sent to company employees Kevin Hancock said, “Along the way, Paul has played a leading role in strengthening our cultural priorities around employee engagement, safety, and customer care. Paul has worked closely with our Board of Directors, our banks, and our shareholders. He is exceptionally well versed on the company as a whole. Paul brings passion, curiosity, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, collaboration, respect, and a competitive spirit to his work. His qualities and the company’s values are very well aligned.”
The move is part of the overall company culture and direction at Hancock Lumber, according to Kevin Hancock.
“It’s important to see this topic in the context of our shared leadership philosophy. Hancock Lumber is designed to be a place where everybody leads. Every voice in our company is important and every person on our team has a critical role. Even within our senior executive team, our leadership approach is shared,” Hancock wrote in the memo.
The executive team includes Kevin Hynes (sawmill division COO), Mark Hopkins (retail division COO), Wendy Scribner (Human Resources Director), Paul Wainman (CFO), Erin Plummer (Marketing & Communications Director), Jim Buchanan (BOD Vice Chair), and Hanock.
Kevin Hancock“As an executive team we have, for years, made the important decisions collaboratively and collectively. In our work we don’t get hung up on titles. We each know our roles and we just help each other and try to make the best possible decisions for the future of the company,” Hancock said.
“Much of that work revolves around the highly effective leadership of our COO’s. None of that is going to change. So while on one level, Paul becoming President is a big moment, on another level it’s a subtle change by design. Our executive team is staying in tact and our executive processes will continue as they are,” he added.
Hancock began working at the company in 1991 and has been president since 1998. Shortly afterward, he was named CEO and chairman.
“I love this company and plan to keep working and supporting our efforts for a long time to come. My connection to the company is a lifetime affair. I started here when I was 25 and I expect to be here in some capacity when I am 75,” Hancock said. “I am not retiring, nor am I getting ready to retire. I’m just evolving my role and I remain super excited about our future.”
2019 has been a dynamic year for Hancock Lumber. In addition to the announcing the new direction of its leadership, the pro dealer moved into a new corporate headquarters in May and broke ground on its 10th location in Saco, Maine this past August.
Last month, Hancock was named a “Best Place to Work in Maine” for the 6th year in a row.