LANSDALE, Pa. – Poul Jeppesen, currently president of SKF USA Inc., has been appointed president, SKF North America, with an overall responsibility for Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

In this new role, Jeppesen will report to Tom Johnstone, SKF president and CEO, and will be a member of SKF Group Management. His appointment became effective Feb. 1.

SKF says North America is an important market for the company, and it is stepping up its activities in the region. The most recent evidence of this was the company’s acquisition of Lincoln Industrial. SKF has formed the North American division to support the continuing growth ambitions in the area.

Jeppesen has held several management positions in areas of sales, marketing, product management and manufacturing since joining the company in 1982. He also serves as a board director for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA) and the charity organization Family Answers.

Jeppesen will continue to be based at the SKF USA headquarters in Lansdale, Pa.