Batesville recently confirmed that Kim Ryan, the company’s president since 2011, has stepped away from her position and will serve as interim President of Coperion, a core business within Hillenbrand’s Process Equipment Group, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Chris Trainor, formerly Chief Financial Officer and Administrative Officer for Batesville, was named as interim President, reporting directly to Joe Raver, Hillenbrand, Inc. CEO. In this role, Trainor has responsibility for leading the Batesville organization. He has been a key member of Batesville’s executive team for five years and has a strong command of the company’s business, its customers’ needs and the challenges the industry faces.
Succession planning is an integral part of development at Hillenbrand. In describing these interim appointments, Hillenbrand CEO Joe Raver said, “As a large global company, we plan for this type of situation to arise periodically. We are privileged to have a deep talent pool with proven leaders, like Kim Ryan and Chris Trainor, who are prepared to take on larger roles with greater responsibilities when needs arise within the organization. Their experience and deep understanding of the Hillenbrand Operating Model will allow us to continue to execute on our strategies in each of these businesses without disruption.” Raver continued, “Batesville has a strong executive team that is closely aligned and will continue to lead the way with quality products and innovative solutions that drive real value for customers.”