CRST CEO Dave Rusch to step down Monday

CEDAR RAPIDS - The head of Cedar Rapids-based transport company CRST International will leave his role next week as part of his planned retirement at the end of the year.

CRST President and CEO Dave Rusch will step down from his position Monday to become a full-time adviser to CRST owner John Smith before retiring fully Dec. 31, according to a statement from the company.

Rusch is expected to remain on CRST's board of directors after his retirement.

CRST Chief Operating Officer Hugh Ekberg will become the new president and CEO.

Rusch joined CRST from Cleveland-based North American Van Lines in 1991 as a vice president of operations of a CRST subsidiary. He was promoted to president and chief executive of CRST International in 2010.

'We are most grateful to him for his 27 years of dedicated leadership to CRST, our employees and our customers,” Smith said in a statement. 'He's an industry veteran who should be proud of his legacy, which includes positioning the company for continued growth and success.”

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