Willem De Vos, the CEO of the Society of Plastics Engineers, is stepping down in 2017 and the organization will seek a new leader, the group announced Dec. 8.
De Vos joined SPE as CEO in 2012, after a 22-year career in the industry in Europe and Asia, including as CEO of Vitalo Group, a global thermoformer and packaging company based in Belgium. De Vos is a Belgian national.
SPE said in a statement it hopes to have a new CEO in place by mid-year. The search will be conducted by Korn Ferry and will begin in January, the group said.
“We have restructured SPE, created additional member benefits, launched new industry services and events, and established several relevant partnerships under Wim De Vos's leadership,” said SPE President Scott Owens, in a statement.
“The focus of the new CEO will be to continue building upon this new and effective business model,” Owens said. “With our enhanced infrastructure and strong management team, the new CEO should continue the current path to create added value for the industry and its professionals.”
In the news release, De Vos said he wished to return to industry.
“We have adapted SPE's business and infrastructure to cope with the changed market environment and the more competitive landscape,” he said. “With well-qualified resources in place, it will be time for me to get back into the industry once the new CEO has been installed.”
He said he wants to remain in the plastics industry and stay involved with SPE in a volunteer role.
SPE's most recent federal tax return, for 2014, does not list a salary for De Vos, but it identifies a payment of $477,309 to a company called Zendics BVBA in Ronse, Belgium for “management.”
An SPE spokeswoman said that figure includes all spending for De Vos's office there, including other staff, office costs and travel expenses.