Joe Hoelzer has been named president/ceo of Süddekor LLC, effective April 1. Hoelzer succeeds Andreas Gottzmann, who resigned March 1 after nearly seven years. The leadership change will enhance Süddekor’s management team and support the Agawam, Mass.-based company’s ongoing mission to be the leading supplier of decorative surfacing solutions for the North American laminate market, according to the company.

A graduate of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences–Germany, the City University of Seattle (MBA), and a certified process improvement expert (Six Sigma Black Belt), Hoelzer comes to Süddekor with extensive high-level management experience with industrial companies. He has a history of building organizational capabilities, driving change and innovation, and aligning plant performance to achieve corporate objectives. Hoelzer, who is fluent in both English and German, has experience developing high performance leadership teams and has been recognized for consistently delivering results in diverse environments and challenging situations.

Hoelzer’s areas of expertise include strategic planning and execution, profit planning and P&L management, organizational restructuring and leadership training and development, as well as continuous process improvements, multi-plan management and Six Sigma/Lean implementation. He also specializes in executive management, change management and turnaround management.

Hoelzer currently resides in the Springfield, Mo. area and serves as a consultant for Aux Arc Biz Consulting LLC. He also held the position of chairman of the Manufacturing Council at NCARED Corp.