Grove City, Pa.-based FORTA announced that Bruce Christensen would replace outgoing Peter Ferris as CEO.
Christensen brings more than three decades of experience in specialty construction materials and chemicals, most recently serving as president of the US and Canada for Master Builder Solutions. Prior to that, Christensen served in senior executive positions at MBCC Group, BASF Construction Chemicals, and Degussa Construction Chemicals across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
“Bruce brings outstanding industry expertise, but what gave us the greatest confidence was the leader behind the résumé. He leads with integrity, builds strong teams, and shares the values that define our company. We’re excited to welcome Bruce as FORTA’s next CEO. He is joining FORTA because he wants to build something special and given The Heritage Group’s long-term orientation and commitment to growth, he is exactly the type of leader we were looking for at FORTA,” Amy Schumacher, CEO of The Heritage Group, the organization that owns FORTA, said.
Christensen earned his Bachelor of Science with High Distinction in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Minnesota, and holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University. He is the co-inventor of 14 granted U.S. patents and has authored more than 50 professional publications.
“I am drawn to FORTA because of the strength of the product portfolio, the quality of the team, and the long-term commitment of The Heritage Group,” said Christensen. “This is a business built on a strong foundation, and I look forward to partnering with the team to accelerate what is already a compelling growth story.”