Joren Knockaert, a former vice president of operations for flooring giant Mohawk Industries, is the new president and CEO of Deceuninck North America, a manufacturer of vinyl and composite window and door systems.
Knockaert headed Mohawk-IVC's North American operations in sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl flooring. He also oversaw four manufacturing plants and guided the startup of a $200 million facility to produce next-generation luxury vinyl tile products.
Prior to Mohawk, Knockaert had executive roles managing operations in China and Belgium for Bekaert, a steel wire transformation and coatings company. He started his career working with artificial turf extrusion.
Knockaert comes to Monroe, Ohio-based Deceuninck with global experience and an understanding of vinyl manufacturing, according to Francis Van Eeckhout, CEO of Deceuninck Group, the parent company of Deceuninck North America.
"Joren is an outstanding organizational leader with a keen eye for new product development and nurturing talent," Van Eeckhout said in a news release. "We are excited to have him step in to orchestrate our continued growth at Deceuninck North America."
With $156 million in annual sales, Deceuninck ranks 32nd among pipe, profile and tubing producers in North America, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.
Knockaert sees opportunities for the subsidiary, which has manufacturing sites in Monroe and Fernley, Nev.; holds more than 200 patents on designs, processes, technologies and material science; and makes products that its customers use to produce more than 7 million windows and doors a year.
"The fenestration industry is well-primed for innovation in products and processes. I believe Deceuninck North America is ideally positioned to advance innovation, design and reliability for each of our fabricators across the continent," Knockaert said.
He succeeds Filip Geeraert, who retired after 20 years with the company and now serves as chairman of the Deceuninck North America board of directors.
Geeraert said: "Joren has the skills, expertise and leadership qualities that will take us into new territory. I am looking forward to working with him and our board to continue our transformation into a new age of fenestration."
Knockaert is scheduled to begin his new role Aug. 1.
He has an industrial engineering degree in electromechanics from KHBO and a civil engineering degree in manufacturing and management from KU Leuven.