Former Werner CEO Greg Werner Dies
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Greg Werner, the former CEO of Werner Enterprises, has died, the company confirmed June 25.
Werner, 62, was the son of company founder C.L. Werner and brother to former company vice chairman Gary L. Werner. He held a variety of posts during a four-decade career with the company, eventually rising to lead the company from 2007 to 2015. He was succeeded by current CEO Derek Leathers.
“We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Greg Werner,” Leathers said in a statement provided to Transport Topics. “His talent, skill, creativity, passion and leadership were essential contributors to the success and growth of Werner Enterprises over his nearly 40-year career.”
Greg Werner joined the company as a teenager, repairing trucks and trailers. He was promoted to director of equipment maintenance in 1981. He served as treasurer from 1982 to 1986, became vice president in 1984, and was promoted to executive vice president in 1996.
Along the way, Werner immersed himself into learning computers, databases, operating systems and programming when the company needed someone to lead on its management of information systems.
He was elected to the board of directors for the company in 1994. He served as company president from April 1997 until May 2011, and held the position of COO from 1999 until rising to the CEO post. He was also the vice chairman from May 2011 until August 2015. Werner retired from the company in 2015.
“Werner Enterprises owes a debt of gratitude to Greg. … Our sincerest condolences go out to Greg’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Leathers said.
Staff were notified via a June 24 company memo. “Greg led Werner Enterprises through both good and challenging market conditions while maintaining Werner’s credibility, consistency and financial strength,” the memo said.
Surviving family members are his wife, Tami, son Clint (Adrienne), daughter Tara (Alex) and several grandchildren.
Werner Enterprises, based in Omaha, Neb., ranks No. 17 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
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