# Ron Kaplan

> Ronald W. Kaplan led Trex as president and CEO from 2008 to 2015, overseeing an operational and product turnaround at the composite-decking manufacturer. A former Harsco and Continental Global Group executive, he later served as Trex chairman and vice chairman before retiring from its board in April 2026.

- **Role:** Manufacturing executive and former corporate director
- **Organizations:** Trex Company, Harsco Corporation, Continental Global Group, Caesarstone, United Way of the Shenandoah Valley, Compressed Gas Association
- **Education:** B.A. in economics, Alfred University, M.B.A., The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Led Trex’s turnaround after joining during a period of losses and lender pressure., Oversaw the launch of Trex Transcend in 2010 and the introduction of Enhance for the 2012 season., Led Trex during its 2014 completion of the transition to high-performance composite decking.

## Career timeline

- **1979-2005** — Worked at Harsco Corporation in multiple leadership roles, including senior vice president for operations.
- **1994-2005** — President of Harsco’s Gas Technologies Group.
- **2006-2007** — Chief executive officer of Continental Global Group.
- **2008** — Became Trex president, CEO and a director, effective January 7.
- **2010** — Became Trex chairman in May, alongside his executive responsibilities.
- **2010-2015** — Chaired United Way of the Shenandoah Valley, according to his LinkedIn profile.
- **2015** — Retired as president and CEO on August 17; James E. Cline succeeded him. Kaplan remained chairman.
- **2015** — Joined Caesarstone’s board in December; its 2024 annual report documents this service.
- **2020-2026** — Served as vice chairman of Trex.
- **2026** — Retired from the Trex board effective April 28.

## Achievements

- Led Trex’s turnaround after joining during a period of losses and lender pressure.
- Oversaw the launch of Trex Transcend in 2010 and the introduction of Enhance for the 2012 season.
- Led Trex during its 2014 completion of the transition to high-performance composite decking.
- Named among Virginia Business’s Most Influential Virginians in 2015.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Trex’s 2026 proxy specified April 28, 2026 as Kaplan’s board retirement date.
- **2025-10** — On October 29, Kaplan notified the board committee that he would not stand for re-election in 2026.

## Links

- Website: https://www.trex.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronkaplanceo

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ron-kaplan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22