Phoenix Contact USA executive team includes Marian Roldan (from left), Davis Mathews, Kyle Bordner, Kevin Zak, Doug Ferguson and Heath Scoggin.

Automation supplier’s U.S. management board prepares for president’s retirement

Sept. 3, 2024
Phoenix Contact announces leadership transition

Phoenix Contact USA announced a new management structure and leadership team, effective September 1. This board-based leadership change supports the maturation of the U.S. company as a Group Center of Competence and the overall business area (BA) structure that Phoenix Contact first implemented in 2016. It also provides a seamless transition in preparation for the retirement of Jack Nehlig, president of Phoenix Contact USA, who is retiring on December 31, after 23 years with the company.

Heath Scoggin has been promoted to president of the BA Device Connectors and will lead Phoenix Contact development and manufacturing legal entity, Process Management and Quality.

Kevin Zak has been promoted to president of the BA Industrial Components and Electronics and will lead the Phoenix Contact U.S. sales subsidiary legal entity, Logistics, Government Relations and ESG.

Davis Mathews has been promoted to president of the BA Industry Management and Automation and will lead the Phoenix Contact holdings legal entity, Human Relations, Digitalization, IT, Purchasing and Facilities.

In addition, Kyle Bordner was promoted to vice president of finance and risk management, replacing David Russo, who retired in May.

Scoggin, Zak, Mathews and Bordner have been named members of both the Phoenix Contact USA executive board and the management board. The Phoenix Contact management board will also include Marian Roldan, senior vice president of human relations, and Doug Ferguson, senior vice president of Americas operations services.

“The new USA management board is grateful for Jack Nehlig’s leadership, mentorship and friendship, and we know we have large shoes to fill,” said Zak. “The USA management board has almost 150 years of combined Phoenix Contact experience, and we are excited to help ensure a smooth leadership transition, foster alignment with our corporate management team and enhance the USA’s market influence in future product and solution development. Through our technologies and solutions for electrification, networking and automation, Phoenix Contact is uniquely capable of enabling our customers and partners along their journey toward a sustainable future and tackling the inherent challenges of climate change and energy transformation.”

Roldan said: “In surveys, our employees always cite the culture as one of the top reasons that Phoenix Contact is a great place to work. This culture can be largely attributed to Jack and his presence. Jack has always led by example, bringing a friendly, open communication style and acknowledging the contributions made by every employee. We will miss his leadership and guidance, along with his personality and his warmth. But he has mentored the USA management board well; we have all been a part of his executive team for many years. As Jack would say, we have worked together beside him, not for him, and we will continue to lead in the same way as we move forward.”

Phoenix Contact is based in Germany. Since 1923, Phoenix Contact has created products to connect, distribute and control power and data flows. The Phoenix Contact global network includes 22,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Phoenix Contact USA has headquarters near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and employs more than 1,100 people across the United States.

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