Chris Karssiens was appointed interim president of Hoshizaki America. He replaces James McDowell, who left the company for personal reasons, per a release announcing the transition.

Chris Karssiens “Last year posed a significant challenge for our industry, which forced our leadership team to rethink both our internal and external strategies,” Karssiens says in a statement. “A reorganized and refocused sales structure, the addition of key talent to our great team, and enhancements in our channels have set us up for strong growth this year and in the years to come.”

Karssiens came to Hoshizaki America in January 2020 as senior vice president of sales and marketing. No stranger to the foodservice equipment segment, Karssiens’ background includes working with such manufacturers as Middleby Corp., Ice-O-Matic, Jackson Warewashing and others.

McDowell became president of Hoshizaki America in April 2019. His background included stints with Jackson Warewashing, among other equipment companies.