CEO Nevin Cooley to retire from High Cos. in 2015

Nevin Cooley, CEO of the High Cos., has announced he will retire from the East Lampeter Township-based company in 2015.

Cooley has been with High since 1986. He has served as CEO since 2012.

The High Family Council, along with the boards of High Industries Inc. and High Real Estate Group LLC, have begun the process of identifying a successor, said Dave Nicholas, a company spokesman.

“This is an important evolution for High and, in keeping with its philosophy of maintaining a strong governance structure and leadership team, we are therefore working to ensure both a cultural fit and a smooth transition for this new leader,” he said.

Cooley will remain CEO during the transition phase, Nicholas said, adding that there have been internal inquiries about the job.

In his retirement, Cooley plans to continue serving as a trustee of the High family trusts, Nicholas said.

High, which was No. 3 on the Business Journal’s Top 100 Private Companies List in 2013, finished last year with $515.6 million in revenue. That was down from $595.9 million in 2012. High is the largest privately held company in Lancaster County.

In April, the company’s construction division lost its president and COO. Jeff Sterner, president and COO of High Industries Inc., is overseeing High Construction Co. in the interim.

Originally posted on Central Penn Business Journal.