Albany International Corp, a global advanced textiles and materials processing company, has appointed director William Higgins as chairman of its board of directors succeeding director Erkie Kailbourne, who had served as chairman since 2008. Higgins joined the Albany board in 2016 and currently serves as chairman of the compensation committee.

Kailbourne will remain on the board of Albany, said a press release by the company.

Higgins also serves as a director of Kaman Corporation, a diversified aerospace and industrial distribution company, and Bristow Group Inc, a leading global industrial aviation services provider.

“Bill’s experience in public company leadership roles, including his experience chairing a public company board, makes him the ideal person to lead Albany’s board during this exciting period of growth. His leadership skills have been evident to his fellow Albany directors since joining the board in 2016, most recently during his chairing of the compensation committee. While I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve as the company’s chairman for the last ten years, I am just as grateful to be able to leave the chairmanship in the hands of a colleague as capable, trusted and talented as Bill Higgins,” said Kailbourne.

“I am honoured and grateful to be appointed as Albany’s chairman by my colleagues on the company’s board. I look forward to working closely with my fellow directors, and especially with president and CEO Olivier Jarrault, during this especially exciting time in Albany’s history. With their help, I will endeavor to lead the board with the same skill as Erkie has for the past decade,” said Higgins. (PC)