Metalworking supplier Kennametal is set to have new leadership later this spring.

The Pittsburgh-based company announced March 14 that its current Metal Cutting segment Vice President, Sanjay Chowbey, will become President and CEO on June 1.

On May 31, current President and CEO Christopher Rossi will retire from the company after nearly seven years as its top executive. Chowbey was unanimously appointed by the Board of Directors as Rossi’s successor.

“On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Chris for his many contributions to Kennametal and congratulate Sanjay on his well-deserved appointment as CEO,” William Lambert, Kennametal’s Board Chairman, said in a news release. “Chris is leaving the company better than he found it, having successfully executed the company’s Simplification/Modernization strategy, which improved the efficiency and customer service level of its factories while enabling the manufacturing of new product innovations. In addition, Chris led the company through the challenges of COVID-19, drove a significant and lasting cultural transformation and improved the underlying performance of the business.”

“Over the last seven years, we have made good progress in streamlining our organization, improving operations and sales effectiveness, enabling higher value-add product innovations and establishing our growth strategy,” Rossi said. “While difficult to say goodbye to this great company and our employees around the world, it is the right time for me personally to make this transition, especially knowing that I leave Kennametal under the very capable leadership of my planned successor Sanjay.”

Chowbey joined Kennametal in 2021 as President of its Metal Cutting segment. The company noted that, since then, the segment has grown its customer base, consistently delivered sales growth, expanded its operating margins and launched more than 20 new products and improved employee engagement.

Chowbey has more than 20 years of experience at various industrial companies, including Flowserve Corporation, Danaher and Arvin Meritor Inc. In his most recent role before Kennametal, he was President of the $1.2 billion Services & Solutions business at Flowserve.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the next CEO of Kennametal,” said Chowbey. “We have a proud 86-year legacy of helping customers make products that touch everyday life and enable people to drive, fly, power and build. We have extraordinary employees who are focused on serving stakeholders around the world and working to do things better than we did the day before. I look forward to accelerating our transformational journey to create shareholder value through growth, margin expansion and a balanced capital allocation strategy.”

The company has launched a search for Chowbey’s Metal Cutting successor, considering both internal and external candidates.