SPE names Pat Farrey as new CEO

Pat Farrey.

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has appointed Patrick Farrey as its new CEO.

Farrey will succeed current CEO Wim De Vos, who will be stepping down in June.

Farrey, based out of Chicago, comes to SPE after a 23-year career in the publication and association management sector. As vice president at Kellen, a U.S. association management firm, he supported several associations and was the acting executive director for some.

“With over 15 years of managing societies and associations, Farrey brings a great deal of non-profit experience” SPE president Scott Owens said in a statement.

Outgoing CEO De Vos has decided to return to the industry after leading the Bethel, Conn.-based SPE for over five years.

“SPE needed someone from the industry like Wim to do the necessary restructurings in the past years and initiate an adapted business model,” SPE’s statement said. “Now is the time to build on a solid new foundation, for which an association executive has the best expertise…Farrey has a very good basis to start from and strengthen SPE’s position as leading provider of new technology information and knowledge to the world-wide plastics industry.”