Tony Bon News

January of 2017 saw the retirement of one of the veterans of the Samson family. Tony Bon, CEO through 2015 retired as of December 31, 2016. Bon shares his impressions of the time he’s been with Samson and the high points of both the company and the industry it serves. In the Navy they have an expression to describe a captain that moves up through the ranks: “He came up through the hawse pipes.” Bon’s journey to the corner office at Samson is a similar story. In 1974, after leaving Berklee College of Music in Boston, Bon needed a job.

Samson, the worldwide leader in performance cordage, announces that after 41 years with the company, Tony Bon will step down as CEO on January 1, 2016. Andrea Sturm has been appointed as Bon’s successor and will be joining the Samson team in November 2015. Bon will remain on staff through the end of 2016 to support Sturm during the transition. Bon has been a valued member of the Samson team since 1974 when he began on the manufacturing floor in Samson’s Massachusetts facility. He transferred to the Ferndale facility in 1980 and advanced through the company in various positions until being named president in 2007 and CEO in 2013. “Tony has been an integral part of Samson’s success and growth over the past 40-plus years,” said Russell Ball, CEO Wind River Holdings, which owns Samson.

Samson announced the appointment of Tony Bon to serve as the company’s president. His background and experience are well suited to his new role with the company and will poise Samson for future growth. Bon has been a valued member of the Samson team since 1974 when he began on the manufacturing floor in Samson’s Massachusetts facility. He soon progressed to Production Superintendent, and later transferred in 1980 to Samson’s Ferndale, Washington factory to be Plant Manager. Since then he has held positions as Materials Manager, Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President, and most recently Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing Samson’s sales, operations, and research and development activities. Bon also enjoys a seat on the Board of Directors for United Way of Whatcom County.

Samson announced the following organizational changes: Tony Bon has been promoted to chief operating officer. Bon has been with Samson for over 30 years. As COO, Bon will have overall responsibility for Samson’s sales, operations, and research & development activities. Mark Swiackey has been promoted to vice president of Operations. Swiackey, previously the vice president of Manufacturing, will be responsible for overseeing manufacturing plants in Ferndale, WA and Lafayette, LA as well as purchasing, logistics and manufacturing engineering. Larry Unser has been promoted to regional sales manager. Unser’s primary responsibility will be Samson’s Commercial Fishing Division. Craig Kelly and Dennis Sherman have been promoted to category sales managers within the Commercial Marine division.