Ralph Boe, chief executive officer of Beaulieu of America in Dalton, Ga., will step down next year.The June afternoon in 2007 that Ralph Boe was elected to the top spot at Beaulieu of America was marred by questions about the future of one of the world’s largest carpetmakers.
As Boe prepares to depart for good in February 2014, he leaves behind a legacy of calm leadership during a stormy time in Beaulieu’s history — a period marked by tough decisions and shared sacrifice in the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression
“There always comes a time in life in the company’s cycle when they make a change,” Boe said. “We’d already started a little of that putting in Nicolas Bouckaert, [co-owner Carl Bouckaert’s son], in charge of the commercial carpet, and Karel Vercruyssen came down from Canada to take half of my role a year ago.”
For the next 10 months, Boe and Vercruyssen will serve as co-CEOs as Boe transitions away from day-to-day operations. Vercruyssen formerly served as CEO of Beaulieu Canada before joining Beaulieu of America as president and chief operating officer in April 2012.
“I’ve had my 12 years with the business here,” Boe said. “I figured it was time to go ahead and make this next step in the succession of the new regime and let the next generation come along to run the business.”