179-year-old manufacturer names new COO.

• Position: Justin Ferdinand of Kentwool

Kentwool, which got its start in Greenville in 1843, recently named Justin Ferdinand its new chief operating officer.

Before making the hire, Kim Kent, CEO of Kentwool, spent time assessing all lines of business under the Kentwool brand, a Kentwool news release stated.

Ferdinand joined Kentwool in December 2021 as president of the Performance Division, according to the release. Kentwool has adapted to an ever-changing industry for the last 179 years, and to continue doing so, it was necessary to refine its strategic operations process, the release stated.

Ferdinand, who has a background in manufacturing operations and data-driven decision-making, was an immediate contender, according to the release.

"Through conversations about his assuming this dual-role, and the support of an experienced team, I knew his empowering leadership style would help position Kentwool for its next phase of growth in the wool market," Kent said in the release

Kentwool's long history of family ownership and brand reputation is what initially captured Ferdinand's interest and led him to join the team, the release stated.

After working with the Performance Division to successfully define strategic direction and implement an execution plan, he's ready to bring his efforts to...