WinnebagoNorth-central Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is looking for a new chief operating officer, with one company official saying the time was right for a new person to lead the company.

Winnebago Industries announced today the immediate retirement of Randy Potts, who had served as Winnebago’s president since 2011.

Lead Independent Director Larry Erickson says the board is grateful to Potts for his 32 years of service at Winnebago, but after having extensive discussions, they collectively agreed that it was an appropriate time for new leadership. The company’s board of directors has named former chairman and CEO Robert Olson to serve as the interim CEO while the board conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

Winnebago’s board will form a search committee led by Erickson to evaluate internal and external candidates and retain an executive search firm to assist it in finding the next CEO.

(Reporting by Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City)