Softwood Lumber Board names new CEO
The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) reported that it has named Cees de Jager as president and CEO.
de Jager previously developed and administered SLB programs as chief marketing officer and succeeds Steve Lovette who retired as CEO and president last month.
Based in Washington, D.C., the SLB is an industry-funded initiative established to promote lumber’s value proposition and increase demand for softwood lumber products in outdoor, residential, and non-residential construction. This includes tall wood design and construction.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Steve Lovette for his tireless and inspired leadership of the SLB from its creation through the revote.” said SLB Chairman Marc Brinkmeyer. “Under Steve’s leadership, the SLB made history, bringing together the US regional producers from the Northeast, Southeast, Intermountain and West Coast, whom together with the Canadian importers make up our industry.
Following de Jager’s promotion, Ryan Flom has been named chief marketing officer of SLB. Flom joined SLB in July as vice president of promotion and research. Together with Maureen Pello, who joined the SLB in October as vice president of operations, the trio will be be responsible for leading the SLB and for increasing demand and expanding markets for softwood lumber products in the United States.
According to de Jager, the SLB has matured as an organization, evolving from a start-up check-off program to “a sophisticated industry influencer.” He also said the SLB will continue to focus its investments on building codes, communications, and conversion from other materials to wood as a building material.
“Our team has been hard at work over the past several months analyzing and making important refinements that will ensure our programs reflect rapidly changing market conditions, emerging market opportunities, supply chain dynamics, and competitor behavior in the coming years,” de Jager said.
Over the next five years, the SLB said it plans to lead a comprehensive and collaborative effort to realize the significant opportunities available to grow demand for softwood lumber, the organization said. The strategy is designed to increase softwood lumber’s share in new market segments while protecting the share wood has already captured against competing interests.
de Jager previously developed and administered SLB programs as chief marketing officer and succeeds Steve Lovette who retired as CEO and president last month.
Based in Washington, D.C., the SLB is an industry-funded initiative established to promote lumber’s value proposition and increase demand for softwood lumber products in outdoor, residential, and non-residential construction. This includes tall wood design and construction.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Steve Lovette for his tireless and inspired leadership of the SLB from its creation through the revote.” said SLB Chairman Marc Brinkmeyer. “Under Steve’s leadership, the SLB made history, bringing together the US regional producers from the Northeast, Southeast, Intermountain and West Coast, whom together with the Canadian importers make up our industry.
Following de Jager’s promotion, Ryan Flom has been named chief marketing officer of SLB. Flom joined SLB in July as vice president of promotion and research. Together with Maureen Pello, who joined the SLB in October as vice president of operations, the trio will be be responsible for leading the SLB and for increasing demand and expanding markets for softwood lumber products in the United States.
According to de Jager, the SLB has matured as an organization, evolving from a start-up check-off program to “a sophisticated industry influencer.” He also said the SLB will continue to focus its investments on building codes, communications, and conversion from other materials to wood as a building material.
“Our team has been hard at work over the past several months analyzing and making important refinements that will ensure our programs reflect rapidly changing market conditions, emerging market opportunities, supply chain dynamics, and competitor behavior in the coming years,” de Jager said.
Over the next five years, the SLB said it plans to lead a comprehensive and collaborative effort to realize the significant opportunities available to grow demand for softwood lumber, the organization said. The strategy is designed to increase softwood lumber’s share in new market segments while protecting the share wood has already captured against competing interests.