Bettcher Industries, Inc. announces several significant organizational changes in the long-planned executive management succession for the company. Don Esch has been appointed to the position of president and chief operating officer of Bettcher Industries. Esch, who had served as executive vice president, succeeds Larry Bettcher in this role. Bettcher remains chairman and chief executive officer of the company.

“I am pleased that Don is assuming the primary leadership role for the company’s strategic direction and operations worldwide, reporting directly to me,” Bettcher commented. The executive team consisting of the vice presidents of business development, engineering and quality, human resources, manufacturing, sales and marketing, as well as the chief financial officer, now report to Esch.

During his eight-year tenure at Bettcher Industries, Esch has spearheaded the company’s significant sales growth and its expansion into overseas markets – particularly Brazil and China where new subsidiary companies have now been established. He has also played a key role in several strategic acquisitions made by the company in recent years.

Succeeding Esch in the sales and marketing portion of his former role is David Quebbemann. Quebbemann joins Bettcher Industries from Omron Corp., a worldwide leader in the manufacture of sophisticated electronic sensing and control technology. Commenting on Quebbemann’s appointment, Esch stated, “David has a demonstrated record of increasing responsibility throughout his career, from early experience as a sales engineer and national sales manager to his later roles as director of marketing for Omron’s Industrial Automation Division and, most recently, general manager of Omron’s service and manufacturing businesses within the Industrial Automation Division. This combination of strategic and operational experience makes David a good fit to support our continuing plans for significant growth.”