Robert Scoble of Sturbridge, MA has been named president and chief operating officer for Hyde Tools, Inc. Scoble succeeds Richard M. (Rick) Clemence, who has stepped forward to lead the Hyde Group as chief executive officer.

After more than 20 years of leadership in other privately held companies, Scoble joined the Hyde Group family of companies in 2005 as vice president of sales and marketing for Hyde Tools. In 2009 he was named executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Over the last five years, Scoble has been credited with strengthening the Hyde brand, recruiting significant new leadership and creating a new global sales and marketing team for the company. He and his staff also have substantially increased the company’s share of revenue derived from innovative new products. As president, he expects to continue his focus on Hyde brand growth and to work closely with Hyde’s Canadian counterpart, A. Richard Tools, to strengthen their shared North American dominance in surface preparation and finishing hand tools, paint application tools and related retail categories, the company said.

Scoble was tapped for the senior position by his predecessor, Rick Clemence. Clemence will now focus on growing the value of the Hyde Group, the umbrella organization that includes Hyde Tools, Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions and A. Richard Tools of Berthierville, Quebec.