NYSE-listed Armstrong World Industries (AWI) has hired Austin So as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective February 1. In addition to leading the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based company’s legal organization, So will oversee AWI’s sustainability and compliance programs.
He succeeds Mark Hershey, who took on the position of senior vice president for the Americas at the beginning of 2022. Hershey joined the company in 2011 as general counsel and secretary and subsequently served as chief compliance officer and leader of the company’s sustainability efforts.
So was most recently senior vice president, chief legal officer and secretary for StoneMor, an operator of cemeteries and funeral homes. Before his tenure at StoneMor, he was division general counsel and secretary for Heraeus Holding, a global Fortune 500 manufacturing company, where he led an international team of attorneys managing US-related litigation and commercial transactions and supported global M&A and compliance programs.
So began his legal career with Cravath Swaine & Moore before practicing transactional law and litigation at several other law firms. He also founded his own law firm specializing in providing corporate transactional and litigation support for small and mid-sized businesses.
AWI designs and manufactures commercial and residential ceiling, wall and suspension system products.
AWI president and CEO Vic Grizzle says in a statement: ‘Austin is a proven leader with a broad understanding of complex legal, commercial and strategic matters. His ability to partner and collaborate across functions and regions while anticipating and mitigating risks in an engaged and proactive manner fits our culture and will serve AWI well.
‘I am excited to welcome him to our senior leadership team and look forward to his contributions as we advance our growth strategy and continue our sustainability efforts.’
Ben Maiden
Ben Maiden is the editor-at-large of Governance Intelligence, an IR Media publication, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. Ben was previously managing editor of Compliance Reporter, covering regulatory and compliance...
