The seasoned engineered products leader has been leaning in since day one
As he approaches his 100th day as Chief Executive Officer of Solve Industrial Motion Group (“Solve”), Ernie Lauber has been busy building his leadership team and implementing operational improvements.
“I look forward to building on what Solve has already achieved in developing a go-to platform for engineered power transmission products so that we can double the size of the business in the near future,” says Lauber.
“Delivering an unmatched customer experience is critical to ensuring we can achieve that ambitious goal. My job is to keep the Solve team laser-focused on creating a robust and competitive product portfolio, leveraging data to make better decisions, and maintaining strong strategic partnerships.”
Lauber arrived at Solve in June after four years as Group President for the Engineered Products Group at ParkOhio Holding Corp, overseeing a $500 million sales business and 2,000+ employees across 40 locations.
He succeeds Lisa Mitchell, who now serves as Chairperson of the Solve board of directors after more than five years with the company where she also held the positions of CFO and COO.
“Ernie brings a compelling mix of leadership and management experience combined with a strong vision for the future of the company. He is an experienced changemaker who the board believes can help take Solve to new heights,” says Mitchell.
“He’s hit the ground running and the leadership transition couldn’t have gone any smoother. I look forward to working closely with him as he plots a course toward an even brighter future for Solve.”
Over the last three months, Lauber has taken steps to implement lean principles across the company, laying the foundation for a cultural transition focused on high expectations and empowered employees.
“We’re working to change the conversation from ‘I can’t’ to ‘How can we get to yes?’” says Lauber.
“We’ve already started to deploy an operating system to help us better pinpoint specific challenges we need to address. I’m a big believer in embracing a culture of continuous improvement.”
In the months ahead, Lauber plans to focus on innovation and product development as well as improving overall operational performance. He expects continued progress toward the company’s goals to come through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
“I continue to acquaint myself with all aspects of Solve’s business and build trust with employees as we work together to improve performance and meet our growth targets for next year,” he says.
“Every growth journey is by definition a learning journey, and I look forward to traveling the road ahead with the talented team here at Solve.”
