Resin Technology Inc. has a new president and CEO in Robert Rosales.
Rosales took those roles March 1 at RTI, a consulting firm based in Fort Worth, Texas. He had worked with RTI while with Haven Management Group and Haven Sales & Marketing, marketing and business strategy firms for foodservice and retail food makers that he co-founded in Bentonville, Ark.
Prior to Haven, Rosales had more than 20 years of experience with agricultural giant ConAgra Foods. He's also worked for Procter & Gamble and Frito-Lay and has managed businesses spanning more than 100 categories and more than 300 brands and private labels.
In a March 16 phone interview, Rosales said that one of his goals at RTI will be "to make sure that our vision of what we believe is out there."
"Namely, that cost transparency is good for the industry," he added. "It can lead to higher sales and customer loyalty. A long-term strategic partnership can be an ongoing win-win."
And Rosales said he realizes he's joining RTI, which works with resin buyers, at a time of incredible volatility in resin markets.
"If you're in a strategic partnership when something like this [volatility] occurs, it makes the relationship more solid," he added.
Looking ahead, Rosales said that RTI has opportunities to help its clients meet sustainability goals. "We're very well positioned in that area, whether it's reengineering plastic packaging or identifying recycling options," he said.
In a news release, RTI co-founder Bill Bowie said that Rosales "is a tremendous addition to the RTI organization" and that "the breadth and depth of his experience will usher in a new period of growth for our company."
Co-founder Garland Strong added that Rosales' "vast experience working with some of the world's largest manufacturers, retailers and distributors will accelerate the company's ability to showcase our industry-leading capabilities in the areas of plastics, paper, sustainability and packaging innovation."
Rosales is replacing Pete Suerken, who had been RTI's president and CEO since 2017. Suerken is joining the Quality Supply Chain Cooperative as president and CEO.
RTI was founded in 1998. In its gain-share model, the firm's compensation is based on how much they save their clients on costs for resin or other items such as finished plastic products or paper products.
RTI employs a staff of around 20 and has more than 100 clients that are involved in more than 14 billion pounds of resin transactions and more than 50 clients that buy more than $6 billion in paper and corrugate every year.