MAPEI Americas said president and CEO Nick Di Tempora has retired after 23 years with the company and has been succeeded by Rainer M. Blair, a 16-year veteran of BASF Corp. Di Tempora will remain on MAPEI's board and serve as an advisor to Blair, who will function as deputy CEO during the transition period, the company said.

In announcing the shift, Dr. Giorgio Squinzi, CEO of the MAPEI Group, praised Di Tempora for his ability to build the company's position in the floor covering installation business. "We want to thank Nick Di Tempora for his many, many years of successful leadership in guiding MAPEI Americas to its current strong position in the market. We are happy that he will ensure continuity for the company by staying on as an advisor while Rainer Blair assumes the reins of management," Squinzi said in a statement.

Blair, who will be based in the MAPEI's headquarters in Deerfield Beach, Fla., most recently served as group vp for BASF's coatings businesses in North America. MAPEI Americas generates about $230 million in annual sales and is a key component of the $1.38 billion worldwide MAPEI group.