Blount International recently announced a CEO succession plan for the company, naming Joshua Collins the new President, Chief Operating Officer and CEO designate pending the January retirement of Blount CEO and longtime Oregon Cutting Systems employee Jim Osterman, who will remain Blount International’s Chairman until the company’s annual meeting in May 2010. He’ll act as a consultant to the company during his retirement.

Collins has served on the Blount Industries board the past five years and was an executive with former Blount majority shareholder Lehman Bros. He is currently a partner in the private equity firm Collins Wilmott & Co. LLC.

Involved with the company for 50 years, Osterman joined Oregon as an inventory planner in 1959 when it was part of Omark Industries. Over the next five decades, Osterman excelled in many roles, holding positions such as Director of European Operations and Senior Vice president of Marketing, Manufacturing and Engineering. When Blount International purchased Omark Industries in 1985, Osterman was named President of its Oregon Cutting Systems Div. He became President and CEO of Blount International in August 2002, and Chairman and CEO in April 2005.

When Osterman joined the company annual sales were less than $10 million. Today, sales top $500 million a year, and the company employs more than 3,000 around the world. It’s estimated the Oregon saw bars and chain have more than 60% worldwide market share and two-thirds of sales are into international markets.