Avis names new president and CEO

The board of directors of Avis Industrial Corp., headquartered in Upland, Indiana, has announced that Greg King has been named the company’s new president and CEO, effective immediately.

King has spent the last four-and-a-half years as president and general manager of Harris, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avis that is based in Cordele, Georgia, with additional operations in Baxley, Georgia, and sales and engineering offices in Wiltshire, U.K. The search for a new leader at Harris is in process, but in the interim, King will continue to manage Harris in his role as president and CEO of Avis, the company notes in a news release about his promotion.

Prior to joining Harris and Avis, King worked at WestRock, formerly Rock- Tenn Co., Atlanta, from 1989 through 2015 in various senior executive roles.

“I feel Greg is a very good fit for Avis and the unique group of companies Leland has built over the years,” says Ron McDaniel, chairman of the Avis board. “I promised Leland I would step in on an interim basis if needed, and I feel good about honoring that commitment. It is now time for Avis to move forward with a full-time, engaged leader and continue developing and growing what Leland was so passionate about.”

McDaniel is referring to Leland Boren, the former chairman, president and CEO of Avis who died in November 2018.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead Avis Industrial and its diverse portfolio of companies,” King says. “I look forward to working with the team in Upland, Indiana, and at each of our subsidiaries. To say I am excited would be an understatement; we will work together to make a great company even better.”

In addition to Harris, the Avis family of companies includes American Baler and Sellick Equipment Ltd.