ESCO president, COO retiring Jan. 1; replacment announced

ESCO Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Larry Huget intends to retire from the company on Jan. 1, 2011.

Huget has served in his current role since 2005 and has worked at ESCO, a manufacturer of wearparts and accessories for the mining, construction and aerospace industries, for more than 38 years.

The company’s Chairman and CEO Steve Pratt simultaneously announced the appointment of Cal Collins, currently president of Engineered Products (EP), as president and COO for ESCO Corp.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce Larry Huget’s intent to retire as president and chief operating officer,” Pratt said in a written statement. “I am happy for Larry and his family, but will miss working alongside him. He has been an extraordinary leader and visionary for ESCO who has capably and efficiently managed the business strategies for our groups and global operations.”

Huget joined ESCO Corp. in 1972 as a mining equipment product supervisor. He has held several management and officer-level positions, with responsibilities ranging from manufacturing, product management, sales, IT, human resources, finance, engineering, distribution and administration. Huget also served as president and CEO of ESCO subsidiary Bucyrus Blades, Inc., president of the Engineered Metals group, and president of ESCO Engineered Products.

“While we will greatly miss Larry and his expert counsel, we are extremely pleased with Cal Collins’ promotion to president and COO,” Pratt continued in the prepared statement. “As president of Engineered Products, Cal skillfully broadened ESCO’s offerings and geographic presence, while still maintaining the company’s strong internal culture and focus on innovation. We look forward to our continued growth under his leadership.”

Collins, who will assume his new role effective Jan. 1, 2011, began his career with ESCO in 1977 as a flogger and grinder before entering college.

He received his BA and law degree from Brigham Young University. Collins later became a partner in a Portland, Ore., area law firm and earned an MBA in 1998 through the Oregon Executive Program of the University of Oregon. He returned to ESCO in 2000, and served as ESCO’s vice president of administration, corporate secretary and general counsel, and group vice president, Engineered Products, before assuming his current role.