M-D Building Products announced the appointment of Christian Leard as its new president and chief executive officer.
Leard's experience and succession
Leard brings experience in manufacturing, operations and multi-unit leadership. Most recently, Leard served as president and CEO of Perennials and Sutherland, a Bertram Capital portfolio company specializing in luxury outdoor furniture and performance fabrics. He previously led Levolor, the retail brand under Hunter Douglas, and spent 15 years at Newell Brands in various general management, marketing, and sales leadership roles. Leard began his career at Stanley Black & Decker.
Ryan Plotkin, who has served as president and CEO for over five years, will assume the role as vice chairman of the Board, with ongoing involvement in strategic direction, culture and long-term planning. He will be dedicating his full-time focus and the Plotkin Family Investment in major new initiatives around reshoring and promoting domestic manufacturing.
What people are saying
“These projects represent generational opportunities for domestic manufacturing and supply chain reshoring,” says Plotkin. “While I will be expanding my work in this area, I remain committed to M-D, to our employees, and to our mission as a family-owned company. The Plotkin family is deeply invested in the long-term future of M-D, and in the success of every person who contributes to our organization.”
“M-D has a rich history, an exceptional culture, and a clear path forward. I’m honored to join this team and excited to build on the strong foundation already in place. One of my favorite quotes, borrowed from the founder of one of my previous companies, is ‘Business is People,’ and I embody that in my leadership philosophy and professional ethos. I look forward to winning together as a team,” says Leard.
“Christian’s leadership, experience, and strategic mindset make him the ideal choice to guide M-D into its next phase,” says Loren Plotkin, Chairman of the Board. "I have known Christian for many years and am so excited that he will be joining the M-D Family. We are confident that under Christian’s leadership, M-D will continue to thrive and deliver exceptional value to our customers, employees, and partners."
