O-I Glass announced today that current board member Gordon Hardie will be the company’s next CEO. He will replace longtime CEO Andres Lopez, whose retirement the company announced last month.
Hardie will take over May 15 “or the date Gordon is issued his work-authorized U.S. visa,” according to the news release.
The company said Hardie has more than 35 years of experience in leadership and operational roles, including “overseeing transformations at global companies to achieve industry-leading positions.” Most recently, he was president of food and ingredients at agribusiness and food company Bunge Limited. The release notes that Hardie has served on O-I’s board for nearly nine years, which provides him with a deep understanding of the company’s business, operations and culture.
“I know firsthand that our culture of innovation and the tremendous talent at every level of the organization is what differentiates O-I as an industry leader,” Hardie said in a statement. “Together, with the rest of the Board and O-I management team, I look forward to building on our strong foundation and delivering future value creation for our customers and stockholders.”
Lopez has been with O-I for nearly 40 years and assumed the CEO position in January 2016. Last month, when O-I announced Lopez’s retirement, the company credited him with integrating sustainability into the company’s business strategy and leading a business portfolio optimization program.
“I am extremely proud of what the O-I team has accomplished, from developing breakthrough innovations to advancing new standards in sustainable glass manufacturing and will be celebrating the team's continued successes for years to come,” Lopez said in Thursday’s news release.
