John R. Lawson II doubled down on his most important duty as W.M. Jordan Co.’s chief executive: succession planning. Spending the last several years grooming future leaders at the Newport News. Va.-based firm, the 66-year-old Lawson didn’t just prep potential top executives from the next generation, but also employees from the one after that. “We’re training two generations simultaneously,” says Lawson, who just relinquished the president and CEO title he assumed 32 years ago.
On Aug. 6, W.M. Jordan named Ronald J. Lauster Jr. president and James C. Burnett chief financial officer. The company says it will announce additional promotions early this fall, noting that appointees from what Lawson sees as the third generation of the firm will serve 15 years maximum while the fourth generation is honed. “I want them to know they are going to be the leaders of the fourth generation and that I’m going to provide ownership opportunities for them,” Lawson says.