IACMI announces pending departure of CEO John Hopkins
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) announced yesterday that John Hopkins will step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective March 31.
Described in this February 2018 teknovation.biz article as the equivalent of the “baseball utility infielder” who could effectively play whatever role was needed at the time, he had been associated with the University of Tennessee for decades before becoming CEO of IACMI in 2017. The organization is managed by Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation, a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF).
“Under John’s leadership, IACMI has expanded its footprint and elevated the institute’s reputation nationally and internationally,” said UTRF President Stacey Patterson. “His vision and guidance have provided valuable strength in partnerships, innovations, and solutions relevant to advancing composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions — all of which positions IACMI to capitalize on many opportunities in the future.”
She added that a search for a new IACMI CEO is underway and that Hopkins, who has set a high standard for innovation and creativity, will be actively involved in finding his successor.
For Hopkins, it is obviously a bittersweet moment.
“Leading IACMI and serving the U.S. composites community has been one of the true highlights of my career,” he said. “I am proud of the material and manufacturing advances our core R&D and industrial partners have made. IACMI is well positioned to drive further significant national initiatives in composites innovation and workforce development.”
IACMI is a more than 130-member community of industries, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state, and local government agencies working together to accelerate advanced composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions to enable a cleaner and more sustainable, more secure, and more competitive U.S. economy.
IACMI is one of 16 Manufacturing USA innovation institutes created to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing through large scale public-private collaboration on technology, supply chain and workforce development.
