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Brian Hunt named president of Southern Champion Tray and more Chattanooga-area career moves

Silhouette of business people work together in office. Concept of teamwork and partnership. double exposure with network effects - stock photo business job company tile / Getty Images
Silhouette of business people work together in office. Concept of teamwork and partnership. double exposure with network effects - stock photo business job company tile / Getty Images

By Staff Report 6 min read

photo Contributed Photo by Southern Champion Tray/ Brian Hunt

Brian Hunt becomes the first nonfamily member to be president of Southern Champion Tray

Southern Champion Tray has named Brian Hunt as president, according to an announcement by the Chattanooga-based manufacturer of paperboard packaging products, according to a news release from the company.

Hunt succeeds John Zeiser, who has served as president since 1993 and recently celebrated 40 years with the company. Zeiser will become chairman of the board and his brother, Bruce Zeiser, will serve as vice chairman.

Hunt, who has served as chief operations manager for Southern Champion Tray for the past five years, is the first nonfamily president of Southern Champion Tray and will be responsible for the overall strategic direction of the 850-employee company. Southern Champion has operations in Chattanooga, Mansfield, Texas, and Fairfield, Ohio, and has a 300,000-square-foot expansion underway in Chattanooga.

“I am grateful for the confidence the Zeiser family has placed in me to lead the company,” Hunt said in a news release about his appointment. “I am blessed to work each day with an incredibly servant-hearted team and am inspired by their dedication and drive to succeed. I’m humbled to be given this opportunity and look forward to continuing our 95-year history of serving the customers who place their trust in us for their packaging needs.”