AGRU America, Inc. announced that President and CEO Robert L. Johnson will retire on October 31, 2026, after 30 years at the company. Chief Sales Officer Chris Eichelberger will become AGRU America’s next President and Chief Executive Officer effective November 1, 2026. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Eichelberger will work closely together through the fall.
“It has been an honor and privilege to have been a part of the AGRU success story here in the United States for 30 years and to have been trusted to lead the growth of such a wonderful company,” said Mr. Johnson. “I could not have asked for a better team of executives, department managers, and fantastic employees. They have all contributed greatly to our success. We have come so far from a single extrusion line, one factory, and 25 employees. Soon, we will have seven U.S. manufacturing facilities and 450 employees. The journey with our customers was remarkable, and the friendships we built along the way went beyond anything I could have imagined. I also want to express my utmost gratitude to the Gruber family, whose trust and mentorship over the years have made everything we have accomplished possible.”
“I leave the company in the very capable hands of Mr. Eichelberger,” said Mr. Johnson, “whose attention to the customer experience, critical thinking, and team-building skills will serve him well as he leads AGRU America into new markets and applications. This past year working closely with him on the transition has filled me with confidence in AGRU America’s future.”
“I am enormously grateful for the opportunity to carry AGRU America’s mission forward and serve this amazing organization,” said Mr. Eichelberger. “I have greatly valued the last 11 years, working under and learning from Mr. Johnson, Rick Cannon (previous CSO), and Eddie Douglas (previous EVP of Sales). They laid the foundation for what AGRU America is today. This past year working with Mr. Johnson on the succession has shown me our team’s true capabilities and its tenacity to pursue greatness. I’m genuinely excited to lead our next chapter of growth with the values and vision Mr. Johnson set for this company 30 years ago, which have defined it ever since. He has led with integrity and a moral compass like none other, and he will be missed. I’m equally grateful for the remarkable customers and partners who have grown alongside us; the future is strong, and I look forward to expanding those relationships together.”
Mr. Eichelberger has been with AGRU America since 2015 and brings more than 25 years of experience in the geosynthetics and lining industry. He was named Chief Sales Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales in April 2026, joining the company’s executive leadership team, after serving as Vice President of Geosynthetics Sales from August 2022. He served on the board of the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers and is a graduate of Penn State University.
“Chris has earned this responsibility,” said Mag. Alois Gruber, AGRU’s owner and chairman. “Our family entrusted AGRU America to Robert Johnson for 30 years, and he repaid that trust many times over. In Chris we see the same commitment to our customers and the same understanding of what our name stands for. We are confident in what comes next.”
“I have spent my entire career in one industry, the vast majority of it at AGRU America, and have traveled to more than 32 countries,” said Mr. Johnson. “After decades of expansions, growth, new products, and grand openings, I am finally ready to pass the reins and spend time with my family, my grandkids, and my lovely wife of 39 years, Judy, and to travel the world, this time for pleasure. I am excited about the company’s future, which is brighter than ever, and confident that Mr. Eichelberger, our executive leadership team, our great managers, our employees, and the best owners a company could have will take AGRU America to even bigger places as I move on to the next chapter in life.”