Ziebart International Corporation recently announced changes to its senior leadership team, including the promotion of three key executives and the introduction of a new C-level role. These changes come as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and growth, the company said.
In a move aimed at enhancing corporate and franchisee profitability, Brian Jackman was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer, as well as the president of Ziebart Corporation. With over 15 years at Ziebart, Jackman will focus on maximizing franchise owner profits through U.S. franchising operations, the company said.
Jason Case, who has 13 years of experience with the company, was promoted to vice president and treasurer, managing all corporate financial functions. Additionally, Larisa Walega has been appointed as Ziebart’s senior vice president and chief growth officer, making her the first woman to hold a C-level position in the company’s nearly 65-year history.
Walega, with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, including 14 years at Ziebart, will concentrate on marketing and franchise development strategies.
“It’s a great honor to be the first female C-suite [executive] at Ziebart, especially in what’s traditionally a predominantly male industry,” she said. “I’m thrilled to take the charge in this evolving position that’s laser-focused on setting a course for results-driven growth across all company verticals.”
Thomas A. Wolfe, president and CEO of Ziebart, who took over the company in 2022, emphasized the need for organizational evolution.
“As we began approaching our milestone 65th anniversary, I knew that planning for Ziebart’s future of another 65 years and beyond meant I needed to challenge the status quo and embrace change in our structure,” Wolfe said. He succeeded his father, who retired from the position after 28 years.
Wolfe praised the newly promoted leaders for their dedication to the brand and their connections with franchise owners. “Between Brian and Jason’s strong financial eyes, paired with Larisa’s passion for marketing and the franchising industry as a whole, and their shared fearless attitudes and service mindsets, I’m confident we are putting our strongest players exactly where our focus needs to be to launch Ziebart to its full potential,” Wolfe said.
