Torrington, Conn. — David Preusse, president of Wittmann USA, will step down from that role and pass the reins to Sonny Morneault, the vice president of sales.
The leadership changeover will take effect in May at NPE2024 in Orlando, Fla., but Preusse won't be going far. He's moving into a part-time business development position.
Wittmann employees learned about Morneault's promotion and Preusse's transition during a video announcement from Wittmann Global Group President Michael Wittmann, who said his friendship with Preusse goes back to February 1996, when he was general manager of the U.S. operation, which is based in Torrington.
"Our chemistry fit right away, and I hired him to be sales manager," Wittmann said.
"David quickly increased our sales and market share, and he took over as president when I returned to Austria in 2002. He has succeeded in expanding our business in every respect over the years, and this year, Wittmann USA will be our top sales producer in the world, overtaking Wittmann Germany — a great accomplishment. We wish him all the best in his new part-time role with the company."
When he announced that Morneault will be taking over as president of Wittmann USA, Wittmann said: "Sonny has really earned the respect of his team as the company's sales leader for the past several years, and I am sure he will do a great job as David's replacement, managing the company in the future."
Preusse will stay involved as a part-time adviser to Wittmann USA, filling a role focused on developing new business and markets.
Until then, it is business as usual, according to Preusse.
"I look forward to continuing to serve as president and leading Wittmann USA into NPE2024," he said in a news release. "My Wittmann career includes plenty of great stories, overcoming many challenges, with a great team of talented people, I was proud to serve this company along with Michael Wittmann, and the Wittmann family."
Preusse said turning the leadership to Morneault is ideal for the company and customers.
"I am leaving Wittmann USA in capable hands with Sonny," he said. "He is well versed in who we are, and what we do well, and has been instrumental in contributing to our tremendous growth. After his 17 years here, he has earned this promotion."
Morneault has been Wittmann USA's vice president of sales since 2015. He joined Wittmann in 2007 as the dryers product manager and then worked his way up to serve in additional sales and leadership roles, including regional sales manage and national sales manager.
Since becoming vice president of sales, Morneault has increased Wittmann USA's overall sales by 30 percent, the release says.
"I'm really excited for the opportunity to head Wittmann's initiatives here in the USA," Morneault said. "Our long history and continuous product innovation has always kept Wittmann at the forefront of innovation and I'm excited to be part of that. I look forward to this new role and to leading the company to new successes and sustained growth."
Jason Long will replace Morneault as vice president of sales. He has been national sales manager for Wittmann USA's robots and automation division since 2017.
Long has been in the plastics industry for 25 years, starting as an assembly technician building robotic tooling for the injection molding industry when he was 19 years old.
Long joined Wittmann USA in 2006 as a field service technician who traveled the country installing and repairing Wittmann robots.
In 2013, Long became regional sales manager for the Midwest. Four years later, he was promoted to national sales manager and he relocated to Connecticut to work out of the company headquarters.