Rutherford Retires, Wollschlager Promoted at Airxcel Inc. – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
Jeff Rutherford
Anthony Wollschlager
WICHITA, Kan. – Airxcel Inc. a leading supplier to the recreational vehicle industry announces the promotion of Anthony Wollschlager to president and CEO. Jeff Rutherford, Airxcel’s current president and CEO, will assume the role of chairman.
These organizational changes will take effect in November 2023, according to a company release.
Wollschlager joined Airxcel in 2016 through the acquisition of Dicor, serving as COO, division president, and most recently group president. “Anthony has been a key member of Airxcel’s executive leadership team for several years and has been an integral part of establishing and executing on our growth strategy. He has proven to be a champion for our customers as well as our Airxcel employees. I look forward to Anthony’s leadership in the next chapter of Airxcel’s journey,” said Rutherford.
Commenting on his new role in the company, Wollschlager said, “I am thankful for this opportunity. I look forward to leading Airxcel into the future by building on our rich history of growth through innovation.”
“It has been a privilege to lead Airxcel for over a decade and work alongside our dedicated team,” said Rutherford reflecting on his time with Airxcel. “I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together, and I am confident that Airxcel will continue to thrive under new leadership.”
Rutherford also served the greater RV industry with various posts for the RV Industry Association (RVIA), including a two-year stint as the chairman of the board from 2021-2022. The industry’s accomplishments under Rutherford’s watch – highlighted by almost 1.1 million RVs shipped and two of the three best years on record during that span – were touted by current chairman Kevin McArt of Forest River Inc. at the RVs Move America Week in June.
“The RV Industry Association was re-accredited by the American National Standards Institute, maintaining one of our top membership benefits of being a self-regulated industry,” McArt said at the time. “We launched the Emerging Leaders Coalition to cultivate future leaders across the RV and campground industry and boost their involvement in the Association. The Association released powerful, insightful research, including the RV Owner Demographic Profile, the first-even Campground Market Analysis, and an updated RVs Move America Economic Impact Study.”
McArt also mentioned a handful of major advocacy successes as well as the establishment of the Kevin Phillips Scholarship to provide funding to cover the cost of RV technician training at the RV Technical Institute (RVTI). A former Airxcel RV Group President, Phillips passed away April 25, 2021 due to complications from COVID.
About Airxcel Inc.
Airxcel is the leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of the most critically functional products for the RV industry. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, the Airxcel family of brands includes 16 companies with 13 facilities across the U.S. and Europe. Airxcel.com
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/rutherford-retires-wollschlager-promoted-at-airxcel-inc/
