GOJO Announces Leadership Transition

GOJO Industries continues its tradition of combining leaders from inside the Kanfer family and beyond with the announcement of Carey Jaros as the 73-year-old family enterprise’s new president and CEO. Jaros will begin her tenure on January 1, 2020, at which time Mark Lerner will become senior advisor and president emeritus. 
 
“Gojo is a family enterprise made up of thousands of team members who care deeply about helping the world stay healthy,” said Jaros. “I am honored to be able to work alongside the most talented and committed people in our industry, in service of our Gojo Purpose of Saving Lives and Making Life Better Through Well-Being Solutions. The opportunities that lie ahead for us to have a positive impact on the world while continuing to grow this amazing business in Northeast Ohio are tremendous.”
 
In her new role, Jaros will continue her years-long partnership with Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, who was named executive chair of Gojo in May 2018. 
 
“Carey brings a rare combination of strategic perspective, practical business skills, and real heart,” said Kanfer Rolnick. “As president and chief executive officer, Carey will focus on continuing the company’s progress as a market-making, growth-oriented business that cares about the well-being of people out in the world and within Gojo. Carey is a smart and courageous leader. There is no one else I would rather partner with than Carey as we shape the future of Gojo.”
 
Both Jaros and Kanfer Rolnick bring well-developed strategy and business skills to their respective roles. As the third generation of family leadership, executive chair Kanfer Rolnick is responsible for vision-setting, long-term strategy, sound governance, and stewardship of the family values and culture that have propelled Gojo to succeed. Jaros joined Gojo in 2016 as chief strategy officer and transitioned to COO in July 2018. Prior to joining Gojo, she was president of Walnut Ridge Strategic Management Company, VP Dealer Tire, and spent over a decade as a management consultant at Bain and Company. She has significant experience as an operator, investor, and board member in growth companies.
 
“The two together make a formidable team,” said Joe Kanfer, who transitioned from CEO to Venturer in May 2018. Kanfer is a member of the Gojo board of directors and an advisor and coach to many teams – helping to constantly generate new ideas. “Marcella and Carey share my passion for innovation and pushing boundaries, and I look forward to continuing to work with both of them and their teams to lead the business successfully into an exciting and ambitious future.”
 
Kanfer co-led the business for 30 years with Mark Lerner, who will transition to a new role, senior advisor and president emeritus. In this new role, Lerner will sponsor key enterprise project teams, working as an advisor, coach, and mentor to Gojo leadership team members. He will also continue to serve on the Gojo board of directors.
 
Under Lerner’s leadership, working in tandem with Kanfer, Gojo became a successful hand hygiene and healthy skin company, renowned for its state-of-the-art innovations and product developments, including the invention of Purell Hand Sanitizer, used by hospitals and individuals around the globe to reduce illness and infection. After selling the Purell Consumer Brand in 2004, Lerner was instrumental in reacquiring the Purell brand from Johnson and Johnson in 2010. Gojo then took the product line and expanded it to include new product innovations for schools, healthcare, foodservice, and consumer markets.
 
“Mark cares greatly for Gojo and our Purpose,” said Kanfer Rolnick. “Both Carey and I are grateful for the roles Mark and Joe will play as we drive the next stage of the business.”

“Gojo has a history of team-based leadership with each leader bringing complementary strengths that create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Lerner. “This transition is the next step in that process and I am excited about this next chapter for Gojo.”