CTB Inc. announced recently the creation of the new position of president and chief operating officer.

Doug Niemeyer, executive vice president and general manager of CTB’s Brock Grain Systems Business Unit, has been chosen to fill the new role, according to Victor A. Mancinelli, chairman, president and chief executive officer for the Milford-based agribusiness. The management change is effective Jan. 1, and Mancinelli will continue as chairman and chief executive officer.

The company’s business units related to the production of grain, poultry, eggs and pigs will report to Niemeyer. Mancinelli will continue overall management and direction of CTB, including leading the company’s acquisition efforts. CTB’s businesses serving the poultry processing, equine and industrial sectors will also continue to report to Mancinelli.

Mancinelli said the new position is expected to increase the company’s ability to expand globally, while adding strength and flexibility at the top management level. “Having achieved record sales and growth, the time has come to split day-to-day management of the business from general management and direction,” Mancinelli added. “With broad expertise and over a decade as a valuable member of CTB’s senior management team, Doug is immensely qualified to fill this new role managing the daily operations of CTB’s traditional product lines.”

Niemeyer started at CTB in 2000 as general manager of the company’s then-existing egg production systems business unit and subsequently progressed to general manager of CTB’s Brock unit, the largest in the company. In addition to time spent at CTB, Niemeyer has broad experience from his earlier roles in the technical and engineering fields, as well as in corporate finance and international business. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering, and a master’s degree in business administration.

“I’m looking forward to helping CTB progress to the next level,” Niemeyer remarked. “We remain focused on growing global solutions for agriculture while executing with excellence at the operational level.”