The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. has appointed David Fink, the senior vice president of WL Plastics, as its president and executive director, effective at the end of January.
Fink, a veteran of the plastics pipe industry, has held several positions with the Irving, Texas-based trade group, which represents manufacturers, distributors and other businesses involved with the production and use of plastic pipes and components for a variety of end markets, including municipal water, sewer, storm water, oil patch, telecommunications, conduit, construction and radiant heating.
Fink replaces Tony Radoszewski, who is now president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Plastics Industry Association.
Fink served as chairman of the PPI board of directors from 2017-19 and he currently chairs the PPI statistics committee and co-chairs the newly established PPI safety committee.
"I am excited to take on my new responsibilities as president of PPI," Fink said in a news release. "I look forward to working with PPI's exceptional staff and serving PPI's membership to continue developing the association as the voice of an industry. Through research, education, and advocacy, we will work together to further advance the acceptance and use of plastic piping systems throughout North America and around the world."
Peter Zut, chair of the PPI board of directors and a sales manager at Florence, Ky.-based Krauss Maffei Corp., led the search committee. He said Fink brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the institute.
"With his more than 25 years of experience in the plastics industry, including 13 years at a major plastic pipe manufacturer, David has key insights into all segments of the markets served by PPI, and for many years has been instrumental in developing and executing the PPI Strategic Plan," Zut said in the release.
While at WL Plastics, Fink oversaw sales growth in the polyethylene pipe market segments, including gas gathering and distribution, municipal water distribution, industrial and mining applications, telecommunication conduit, and geothermal.
With $420 million in annual sales, Fort Worth, Texas-based WL Plastics is the 14th-largest pipe, profile and tubing extruder in North America, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.
Fink also has participated in standard-setting organizations and related associations, such as the Alliance for PE Pipe, ASTM International, American Petroleum Institute, American Gas Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Water Works Association, NSF International, and the Canadian Standards Association.
Before WL Plastics, Fink worked for Dow Chemical Co. in the company's polyolefin resin business. He holds bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and chemistry from Gannon University in Erie, Pa.
Fink lives in Keller, Texas, with his wife, Brittainy, and their two sons, Logan and Ty.