Tencarva Machinery Co., a leading distributor and service provider of pumps and liquid-handling equipment, has named Henry Ritchie as its new president, succeeding longtime leader Ed Pearce, who will assume the role of chairman and continue to guide the company’s strategic initiatives.
The Greensboro-based company, backed by New York private equity firm Bessemer Investors LLC, said the leadership changes reflect a deliberate succession plan designed to sustain growth and continuity.
Ritchie, a 37-year company veteran, has held “every conceivable job in the company,” Pearce said, noting that his successor’s deep institutional knowledge and relationships make him ideally suited to lead. Ritchie has served as Tencarva’s sole executive vice president for the past four years.
“He is well respected by our employees, vendors, and customers and has served as our sole Executive Vice President for the last four years in preparation for this transition,” Pearce said. “Henry has spent his entire career at Tencarva, and I look forward to watching the company continue to expand and thrive under his management.”
In a statement, Ritchie said he was “honored and humbled” to step into the top post.
“From our beginnings as a sales company, we have grown into a complete solutions provider, and I am excited about my new role and the company’s future,” he said. “I intend to proudly continue the legacy we’ve built over the last 48 years.”
The company also promoted Chad Plott and Jeremy Reese from vice president to executive vice president, expanding their responsibilities to match Tencarva’s growth. Both are more than 30-year veterans of the firm.
“These promotions further strengthen Tencarva’s business outlook while preparing the next generation of executives,” said Bohdan Tyshynsky, principal at Bessemer Investors. “We are grateful for Ed’s continued guidance, and Henry, Chad, and Jeremy all bring both company and industry experience that will be invaluable as Tencarva embarks on its next phase of growth.”
Founded in 1978, Tencarva has evolved from a regional sales operation into a full-service industrial and municipal solutions provider. The company employs more than 580 people, including 125 employee shareholders, across 35 locations in the Southeast and Midwest.
Tencarva operates under multiple regional brands, including Southern Sales, Hudson Pump & Equipment, ESSCO Service & Sales, Fischer Process, and Detroit Pump & Manufacturing Co. The firm entered the municipal market in 2006 and has expanded through new suppliers, product lines, and geographic reach.
Bessemer Investors, which focuses on middle-market companies, said it views Tencarva as well positioned for continued expansion.
“We are grateful for Ed’s continued guidance,” Tyshynsky said, “and confident in the leadership team driving the company’s next chapter.”
