As part of a planned succession strategy, foodservice equipment manufacturer Henny Penny named Kevin Buchler its chief executive officer. He succeeds Rob Connelly, who will become executive chairman of Henny Penny’s board of directors.

Connelly will retain an active management role in the company, providing strategic guidance and support, per a company release announcing the transition. Connelly became Henny Penny CEO in 2014. And in 2015 the company employees purchased Henny Penny from the Cobb family.

Brian Silverberg, who was named Henny president in May 2023, will continue in his role leading day-to-day operations.

Buchler joins Henny Penny after spending more than two decades with  Hillenbrand, Inc., where he led operations across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He most recently served as president of the Food, Health, and Nutrition Division at Coperion, a company that provides specialized equipment for the food and health industries.