William Disler, president and CEO at AFC-Holcroft, has stepped down from the company, effective March 30, 2023.
As part of the departure news, the company announced Tracy Dougherty and Ronald Waligora will share senior leadership responsibility for leading the company. Dougherty, formerly vice president of sales, has been named chief operating officer for sales, applications, marketing, and aftermarket sales while Waligora, formerly senior engineering manager, has been named chief operating officer for project management, engineering, manufacturing, and field services.
“It has been an exciting and rewarding journey with AFC-Holcroft,” said Disler. “It is hard to believe it started more than 35 years ago. Over the years I have had a chance to work with many incredible people and have made many friends. I have every confidence that the new leadership will continue to guide the company in a good direction. We have brought together a stellar team, and I feel good that I am leaving the company in such capable hands, and that this company will continue its long history of excellence into the future. I am very proud of AFC-Holcroft and the people that have always worked so hard to make it such a great company.”
Disler started his career at the Holcroft Company in 1987 as an electrical engineer newly graduated from Lawrence Technical University, where he currently sits on the Advisory Board of the College of Engineering. His career included extensive international involvement, including living in Asia for more than two years coordinating furnace co-builds with multiple customers. He began to transition into engineering and sales roles, such as manager of advanced controls and Far East operations manager, with a growing emphasis on international business, which eventually led to his senior positions at AFC- Holcroft. He traveled throughout more than 25 countries while supporting sales, engineering, and manufacturing activities. After serving as the company’s executive vice president starting in 2005, he was named president and CEO of AFC-Holcroft in 2012.
“I would like to offer my appreciation to Bill for his dedication to AFC-Holcroft over so many years,” said Christian Grosspointner, CEO of Aichelin Group. “And to the new management team, I wish you great success as you lead the company forward.”
“With our new management team in place, I can now take the time to enjoy other private and professional pursuits that I was unable to find time for,” Disler said. “I will always support the AFC-Holcroft team and plan to keep in touch as much as possible with my friends and colleagues. Thanks to everyone — employees, customers, partners, and friends who helped make my time at AFC-Holcroft so gratifying.”
AFC-Holcroft, founded in 1916, is one of the leading manufacturers of industrial furnace systems used in the heat treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The company has approximately 120 employees globally and has been part of the Aichelin Group since 2016.
As part of Berndorf AG, Aichelin Group is a leading provider of heat-treatment solutions, such as industrial furnaces, induction hardening plants, industrial gas burners systems, control and automation systems, and industry-4.0 solutions as well as services.
MORE INFO www.afc-holcroft.com
