PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- William Murray has been named president of Teknor Apex Co., a leading international compounder.

Murray is a 35-year Teknor veteran, most recently serving as executive vice president and as a member of the firm's Senior Management Team. As president, he'll be responsible for the company's worldwide compounding business. Pawtucket, R.I.-based Teknor operates 12 manufacturing plants in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Murray will succeed Jonathan Fain, who will remain Teknor's CEO and now will add the title of chairman of the board.

"In 35 years with Teknor Apex, [Murray] has come to understand all phases of our company and has been a key force in its development as a global enterprise," Fain said in a Jan. 28 news release. "As president he will draw on his wealth of experience to strengthen our mission of serving customers as a unified team, with one focus across all disciplines and in all manufacturing operations."

Murray is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and of Bryant University. He joined Teknor as a project engineer and later held several positions including plant engineer, plant manager and corporate director of engineering.

Teknor was founded as a tire recapper in 1924. The firm now employs more than 2,000 worldwide and has annual sales of more than $600 million. In North America, Teknor ranks as one of the region's 30 largest makers of compounds and concentrates.