Ash Grove elevates COO Vance to CEO; Sunderland remains chairman

Sources: Ash Grove Cement Co., Overland Park, Kan.; CP staff

Ash Grove President and Chief Operating Officer J. Randall Vance has been promoted to chief executive officer. He succeeds Charles Sunderland, who is part of the fourth generation of Sunderland family members to lead the company and remains chairman of the board.

“Randy has demonstrated effective leadership for Ash Grove’s largest business of portland cement and embraced our unique, successful corporate culture,” affirms Sunderland. “I look forward to Randy’s leadership now extending to the entire family of Ash Grove companies.”

The producer has eight cement plants, plus extensive ready mixed concrete, sand and gravel, quarry and packaging operations throughout the Midwest, South and West. It recently acquired the assets of Oklahoma’s Central Mortar & Grout (Muskogee) and Haskell Sand, and will open a new packaging plant in Oklahoma City this fall.

“This year, Ash Grove celebrates 135 years in business. My goal is to continue our long-term focus on being the supplier of choice for quality cement and related construction materials,” says Vance, who joined the company in 2011 as chief financial officer and senior vice president of Administration, moving to his present posts in 2014.