Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, appointed Jack Lee as president, Key Technology – Americas. Lee is responsible for leading strategies that bring Key’s high-performance digital sorting, conveying and process automation systems, as well as world-class service, to food processors throughout North America and Latin America.
Key’s activities in Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia will continue to be led by Antoine van Bree, president/managing director, Key Technology – EMEIA. Jack Lee succeeds Carson Brennan, who is relocating to the Chicago area and taking an expanded role in business development at Duravant. In addition to leading Key in the Americas, Lee also assumes responsibility for WECO along with Don Douglas, president of WECO.
“We’re delighted to have Jack at Key. His passion for continuous improvement, experience applying technology to address changing market needs and team-oriented leadership style is driving a growth plan focused on delivering exceptional customer value,” said Mike Kachmer, president and CEO of Duravant. “Jack is committed to Key’s ongoing success and aligning WECO together with Key. We’re accelerating on our strategy to pursue more common commercial opportunities and provide Duravant’s customers with a more integrated and comprehensive suite of sorting solutions.”
Lee brings over 20 years of leadership experience in industrial automation. Most recently, he was president of Red Lion Controls, a division of Spectris PLC. Prior to that, he was the managing director of Surface Equipment and Automation at Dover Artificial Lift, and he held several leadership roles at Emerson Electric, including VP of Global Marketing and Business Development. At Emerson Process Management, he was Global Food and Beverage industry director and Strategic Planning director.
“Key and WECO occupy an exciting space at a dynamic time. By working with food processors to optimize final product quality, despite extreme weather causing wide fluctuations in the quality of harvested crops, we’re able to act as a buffer to improve things for farmers, food processors and consumers alike. We’re also addressing sustainability by reducing food processors’ energy and water use, plus decreasing their reliance on manual labor,” Lee said. “Our purpose is to feed the world.”
About Key Technology, Inc.
Key Technology is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automation systems including digital sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment. Applying processing knowledge and application expertise, Key helps customers in the food processing and other industries improve quality, increase yield and reduce cost. Key manufactures its products in Walla Walla, Washington, USA; Redmond, Oregon, USA; and in Beusichem, the Netherlands. Key’s USA facilities are certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Key offers customer demonstration and testing services at five locations including Walla Walla and Beusichem as well as Hasselt, Belgium; Sacramento, California, USA; and Melbourne, Australia; and maintains a sales and service office in Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico.
