Jacksonville-based Stellar Group Inc. announced Oct. 28 that Brian Kappele will become chief executive officer Jan. 1.
Kappele has served as president and chief operating officer under CEO Mike Santarone since 2019, Stellar said in a news release.
Santarone will become executive chairman on Stellar’s board of directors, the release said.
Stellar is a design, engineering, construction and mechanical services company.
Kappele began his career at the company in 1997 as an intern in its Food & Beverage group and after graduating became an on-site assistant project manager. He was promoted to division vice president in 2009 and became president and COO in 2019.
Santarone joined Stellar as a field engineer in 1986, was named division vice president of the Food & Beverage group in 2000, promoted to executive vice president in 2005 and became Stellar’s third president in 2012.
“This strategic phased transition of leadership was set in motion in 2019 with the promotions of Mike to CEO and Brian to President/COO,” Stellar Chairman Ron Foster Jr. said in the release.
“They’ve worked together closely in the three years since, including navigating the complexities of the pandemic and global shifts in the construction industry. I am confident Stellar will flourish under Brian’s leadership.”