Kennametal names Industrial, Infrastructure segment leaders

Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, Pa., has appointed two executives to lead its principal business segments.

Effective June 9, Jeswant Gill becomes vice president of Kennametal and executive vice president of the Industrial segment, with global responsibility for the business, which comprises about 55 percent of revenue. Current Industrial segment leader John Tucker plans to retire at the end of the calendar year.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Gill recently served as vice president, Global Services Industrial Technologies, at Ingersoll-Rand Co. Previously he was president of the firm's Security Technologies business in the Asia-Pacific region. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics and an MBA from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

On July 1, James Kohosek will be promoted to the position of Kennametal vice president and executive vice president of the Infrastructure segment, with global responsibility for growth of the company's engineered products and life-extending surface technologies for customers in earthworks, energy, and process industries.

Kohosek joined the company in 2008 and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He currently serves as vice president of Global Surface Technologies. Among prior positions at Kennametal, he served as vice president for the global transportation industry and as vice president of the general industrial unit. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Shippensburg University and an executive MBA from the University of Utah.