Manufacturer of ground support equipment (GSE) Tronair Inc in Ohio has appointed Paul Schwarzbaum as chief executive officer, succeeding Harley Kaplan who has retired.

Schwarzbaum has over 30 years of business leadership experience in publicly-traded and privately owned manufacturing companies. Most recently he was president and CEO of GT Technologies Inc, an international supplier of automotive engine components. During his six-year tenure, Schwarzbaum oversaw the transformation of this business into a highly profitable industry leader by improving GTT's operational performance, generating new business opportunities and overseeing the development and issuance of new intellectual property.

Robert Kirby, a Tronair board member and managing director at Golden Gate Capital, says: “Paul is a hands-on leader with a strong operational background, deep understanding of the manufacturing industry, and proven ability to accelerate growth and drive innovation. He has extensive leadership experience across multiple functional areas and brings a long track record of successfully managing and enhancing complex businesses. We are grateful for Harley's service to Tronair and appreciate his significant contributions, which have set a foundation for growth. Looking ahead, we are confident in Tronair's ability to achieve its growth ambitions with Paul at the helm.”