Mike Watts, founder and executive chairman of Sunstate Equipment, has announced that outgoing CEO Benno Jurgemeyer retired on Dec. 31, 2014, and that Chris Watts has taken over as president/CEO. Chris Watts had been president and chief operating officer since 2009.
Benno Jurgemeyer had served Sunstate for 23 years. He joined Sunstate in December 1991 and played a major role in the company's growth.
Succession plans were already in place when Jurgemeyer announced his retirement in May 2014. Being a great leader and mentor for Sunstate, Jurgemeyer has left a solid team, now led by Chris Watts.
Jurgemeyer will continue to provide consulting services to Sunstate.
New President/CEO Chris Watts began his full-time career with Sunstate in 1996 and has worked in a variety of capacities, leading to an executive position in 2009.