Douglas Dynamics Announces Board Leadership Transition
Lead director Don Sturdivant appointed chairman of the board & Jim Janik to continue serving as director…
Douglas Dynamics Inc., manufacturer and upfitter of work truck attachments and equipment, announced a planned board leadership transition. Current chairman of the board, James (Jim) L. Janik, has decided to step down from his role as chairman, effective April 30, 2025.
The board of directors has appointed Don Sturdivant, the current lead director, to succeed Janik as chairman. Janik will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors, ensuring a smooth transition and continued strategic oversight, noted company officials in a press release.
“Jim has been a tremendous leader for Douglas Dynamics, guiding the Company through significant milestones for decades in multiple roles,” said Mark Van Genderen, president and CEO of Douglas Dynamics. “We are grateful for his ongoing service on the Board and look forward to continue benefiting from his insights.”
Sturdivant has served on the board since 2010 and as lead director since 2023, bringing decades of strategic acumen and managerial experience. Douglas Dynamics says that his capable leadership and understanding of the company’s history and strategic goals make him ideally suited to lead the board going forward.
“During my time on the board, I’ve seen firsthand the strength of our leadership team and the opportunities ahead,” said Sturdivant. “I am honored to take on this new role and look forward to continuing to work closely with my fellow directors and the management team to support the company’s long-term success.”
With Sturdivant’s appointment, the board will no longer maintain a lead director role.
Sturdivant Brings Years of Experience to New Role
Sturdivant is an operating partner at TruArc LLC, a middle-market PE Firm, and focuses on the specialty manufacturing sector. He has served as chairman at a number of the TruArc portfolio companies. He previously served as chief executive officer of FleetPride Inc. from June of 2015 to March of 2016 and served as a director at FleetPride from 2014 to 2016.
Sturdivant was the chief executive officer of Marietta Corporation from 2009 to 2015. He also served on the board of directors at Serta Simmons Bedding Company from 2010 to 2012.
Earlier in his career, he held various executive leadership roles, including chief operating officer at Altivity Packaging and division president roles at Graphic Packaging International and Fort James Corporation. He holds an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology and a B.S. from the University of Maine and served as a Chemical Corps Officer in the United States Army.
