Berkeley Heights-based Hayward Holdings on Tuesday announced it named a successor for Don Smith, the firm’s senior vice president and chief supply chain officer, who has stepped down from the role after more than 15 years with the company.
Effective imediately, John Collins will oversee all integrated supply chain activities across the pool equipment manufacturer’s global enterprise, including manufacturing, distribution, sourcing, materials management, quality, and environment, health and safety.
In this role, Collins will continue to build on Hayward’s long-term vision and strategy for a world-class end-to-end supply chain function and will focus on driving operational effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Collins will report to Hayward CEO Kevin Holleran and be based out of the company’s new corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The location will give Collins easy access to Hayward’s largest manufacturing facility, also in North Carolina in Clemmons, and new distribution center in Mocksville.
“John is joining Hayward at a pivotal moment. As we have grown, we have acquired new businesses, opened new facilities and sourced creatively to successfully navigate the unique environment over the last few years,” Holleran said. “John will play a crucial role in furthering the advantages of our agile and integrated network that Don Smith created, improving the overall service to our customers and the growth of our company.”
“I am excited to join Hayward’s leadership team and help drive the company’s long-term growth strategy,” said Collins. “I understand the importance of effective supply chain management to meet the demands of our customers. I look forward to leveraging my experiences and knowledge and building on the strong foundation in place today.”
Collins brings more than 20 years of experience in supply chain management, having held multiple positions within Textron Inc., a multi-industry, global company providing products and services in the aerospace, defense and specialized vehicles sectors. Most recently, Collins served as senior vice president and general manager for the E-Z-GO and Cushman businesses within Textron’s Specialized Vehicles segment. He has also held roles as the vice president of Textron’s Specialized Vehicles integrated supply chain.
Collins earned his Master of Science at Southern Polytechnic State University and received a Bachelor of Applied Science in technology management from Clayton State University. He has earned an executive education certificate from Duke University.
