Akhurst CEO retires and a new CEO is named

After 23 years at the helm of Akhurst Machinery, Eric Stebner has resigned from the company as CEO and president.

Photo By Akhurst Machinery

DELTA, B.C. Akhurst Machinery, an equipment supplier for the North American woodworking market, has announced the retirement of its CEO and president, Eric Stebner. 

A statement from Akhurst reads: "In his 23 years at the helm of Akhurst, Eric saw the company through many changes and advancements. He was instrumental in guiding the company to record growth including an expansion of our Ontario facility and the addition of a new branch in Anaheim, California. Additionally, Eric saw the company through an ownership transition to the 4th generation in 2016.   Although he will be missed by our staff, ownership, and vendors, we are excited for Eric to have more time for his passion for cycling. He intends to take a number of cycling trips at home and abroad over the next coming months.”

Taking the reins at Akhurst as the new CEO and president is John Sotham.  His previous position was as CFO of OK Tire and Build Direct. “John has some big shoes to fill but we know the company is in good hands under his leadership,” the statement says.

Since 1938, the Canadian family-owned and operated equipment supplier has served the secondary woodworking, structural steel, sheet metal, & machine tool industries. Akhurst is one of North America’s largest independent machinery distributors, with five branches strategically located across Canada, along with a sales office dedicated to their U.S. customer base.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Profile picture for user larryadams
About the author
Larry Adams | Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).