MINNEAPOLIS—Quadion L.L.C., doing business as Minnesota Rubber & Plastics, has appointed Jay Ward as its new CEO.
He replaces Marlin Braun, who a company spokeswoman confirmed left the firm to pursue other opportunities. Braun served as CEO for three years after joining the firm in July of 2013 as chief operating officer.
"I'm thrilled to be joining a high performing team that possesses unique technology and serves many growing end-markets," Ward said in a statement. "Minnesota Rubber & Plastics has a fantastic reputation in its served markets and it is exciting to lead a team that is energized to grow through bringing value added products to our customers."
Ward brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the diversified industrials market, spending the last 18 years with Donaldson Co., a $2.4 billion manufacturer of filtration systems. He most recently served as senior vice president, industrial products from 2011-16. Before that he was senior vice president for the firm's $1.5 billion engine products division from 2008-11.
Prior to his time with Donaldson, he worked for several manufacturing companies in the chemical, semiconductor and industrial markets as well as serving as a commissioned officer for the U.S. Navy after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Minnesota Rubber & Plastics is owned by Norwest Equity Partners, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm.
"We are thrilled to have Jay on board," Andrew Cantwell, partner at Norwest Equity Partners and member of Quadion's board of directors, said in a statement. "He is a results-oriented executive who is not only a champion of customer-focused culture, but meticulously focused on driving both top and bottom line performance and continuous improvement."
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota Rubber & Plastics employs more than 1,300 people in seven global facilities.