After 5½ years as its president and CEO, Hendersonian Greg Risch is leaving Gibbs Die Casting Corp. for a new position with another company.
“It’s 100% my decision,” Risch, 54, said in a phone interview Saturday.
“I’m not escaping anything nor did (the owners of Gibbs) give me so much as a nudge… (We have a) very good relationship,” he said. “It was just time for a change and I got an offer I couldn’t say no to.”
“I start Wednesday,” Risch said of his new position. He declined to identify his new company yet because his hiring hasn’t been formally announced.
He said it is a firm with “multiple locations all around the country serving various industries, serving lots of customers all over the country. I’ll have a lot of opportunities in a lot of places.”
Risch said he and his wife, Jamie, will continue to reside in Henderson. “We are not selling our home,” he said. “This is our home. This will forever be home. By this time next year, we’ll have five kids in five different states. We can’t chase them.
“I’ve been in Henderson 31 years. That’s why it’s home, with the best human beings.”
Risch is leaving Gibbs just over six months after it was acquired by California-based private equity group Architect Equity from longtime owner Koch Enterprises Inc. of Evansville.
“Gibbs is great,” he said. “We’ve done everything (that was asked) under the last six months under new ownership. We exceeded expectations. They’re 100% committed to staying the course.”
As CEO of Gibbs, Risch was known for circulating on the manufacturing floor, meeting and interacting with the more than 800 employees here and inspiring them to be leaders, regardless of their job title.
“Leadership doesn’t happen from a board room or a desk,” Risch said. “It happens on the floor, it happens in a hospital room, it happens in a funeral home, it happens in a wedding chapel. That’s where it happens. Knowing people and loving people.
“I don’t know how you do it any other way. That’s my style. I hope I have rubbed off on some people and they continue that practice.”
In a Facebook post Friday, Risch expressed gratitude to his Gibbs employees.
“I cannot say enough about my teammates,” he posted. “They allowed me to lead while also granting me sufficient grace to not be perfect. They pulled me in like family to celebrate weddings, graduations, births, retirements, service anniversaries, so many birthdays, and a few pies to my face! We also grieved the losses of teammates and close family. We survived the pandemic and everything else the world threw at us! And we did all that together … as a team … as a family.”
More than 100 comments from employees and others followed, such as:
“A huge loss for Gibbs Die Casting. You are one of the best leaders I know. Best of luck to you in the future!”
“What an amazing legacy to leave behind. You led with heart and it shows. Your team was lucky to have you, and I know you’ll continue to inspire wherever you go next!”
“I enjoyed my time getting to know you and work with you. You were definitely one of the best Gibbs has ever had, as you were also willing to do what you asked the employees to do.”
Community leaders offered their own praise.
“During his time at both Accuride and Gibbs, Greg’s talent as a leader and his commitment to our community were as remarkable as any I’ve witnessed,” Henderson County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider said in a message, praising Risch for “his energy, his expertise, his sincerity and his passion for Henderson County.”
“Greg Risch is the epitome of a servant leader and the ultimate ‘hype’ guy,” Missy Vanderpool, executive director of Henderson Economic Development, said in a message. “He has a way of encouraging you while also challenging you to be the best version of yourself.
“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Greg and saw firsthand how his energy and vision lifted people,” Vanderpool said. “One such example is the Tri-State Women’s Network, which he helped launch to empower women in manufacturing across our region. I’m a better person and Henderson is a better community because of Greg’s leadership.”
Risch grew up in Owensboro and graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he today serves on its Board of Trustees. He was named Kentucky Wesleyan’s Outstanding Alumnus for 2018.
He moved to Henderson in 1994 when he was hired by Accuride Corp. in finance and accounting roles, working his way up to positions such as chief financial officer; president, Accuride Wheels North America; and, in 2019, president, Accuride Americas.
He was hired as president and CEO for Gibbs in March 2020.
Founded here in 1965, Gibbs is a leading provider of aluminum parts and components for Tier One industrial and automotive OEM customers worldwide.