ParexLahabra has announced that its President Francois Bouan will retire on October 1, 2009. His career began with the ParexGroup in 1986 as director of logistics, in Paris, France. In 1990, he accepted a promotion to plant operations manager with U.S.-based subsidiary Parex Inc. at its Redan, Ga., location. Bouan was tasked with growing the corporation west and began developing a new manufacturing facility in French Camp, Calif.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Francois for over 16 years”, said Buck Buchanan, vice president of sales and marketing at ParexLahabra. “During a conversation in 1996 I informed him he would become the next president of EIMA. Some found it humorous a French man was to be president of a growing American trade association. His personality served him well and at the end of his term, as EIMA president, he was a very highly respected and strong leader.”

In 1991, Bouan was promoted to executive vice president of the company and then became president in January 1992. The year 2000 began a string of acquisitions including LaHabra Products Inc. and El Rey Stucco Co. In 2005 he spearheaded the merger of all three companies to form ParexLahabra. Later, the corporation acquired Teifs, Mer-Krete Systems, and QEP to round out its offering.

Bouan also served on the board of EIMA from 1991 to 2000 and as the association’s president from 1996 to 1998. He will be succeeded as ParexLahabra’s president by current Executive Vice President Rodrigo Lacerda.