MARSHALL — Ralco Nutrition announced a change in company leadership Friday.

Glenn Bader has been appointed to the role of president and CEO. Bader will replace current Ralco President and CEO Brian Knochenmus.

At the same time, Knochenmus will continue as owner and chairman of the board of Ralco, in addition to being chairman of the board of The trū Shrimp Companies, Inc.

In a news release Friday, Ralco said Bader brings more than 20 years of leadership and general management experience to his new role, including 13 years with Ralco and 17 years at the Schwan Food Company.

“We are fortunate to have someone like Glenn to lead Ralco into its next phase of growth,” Knochenmus said in the release. “Glenn has been a key leader in this company for many years and placing him in this role allows me to spend more time focusing on the launch of the first full-scale commercial shrimp production facility for The trū Shrimp Companies.”

“It’s a great honor to serve our employees and our customers in this new role,” Bader said. “Ralco has amazing people dedicated to providing livestock and crop producers with a better way to raise food to meet the ever-changing demands of today’s consumer. There is no greater purpose or more noble work, and I’m looking forward to leading the Ralco team as we continue to innovate and bring new solutions to an industry that faces constant challenges.”

Ralco is a third-generation family business, that was founded in 1971 by Bob Galbraith. Bader will be the first person who is not a member of the Galbraith and Knochenmus family to lead the company. On Friday, Bader told the Independent he realized that wasn’t a small thing.

“For me, it’s not something I take lightly,” Bader said. “I’ve been entrusted with a really great thing.”

Bader said the role of president and CEO was not one that he had been expecting for himself.

“I spent a lot of time praying about it,” he said. However, Bader said, “The family’s belief in me has been very encouraging, and I’m really excited.”

At the same time, he said, the family-run aspect of Ralco’s business will not change. That was something Brian Knochenmus also confirmed in Friday’s news release.

“Our family is not stepping away from the company and has no plans to,” Knochenmus said. “Ralco has been a family business for over 50 years, and deserves a leader who values our employees, our customers, and our culture as much as we do. We believe Glenn is the right person to carry on the business with the same heart and commitment to its people and success.”

Bader said Friday that he believed in the people on the Ralco team. He said his primary goal during the leadership transition was to help employees realize what they were part of.

“Ralco provides a better way for the health and performance of livestock and crops,” Bader said.

Bader said he also wanted to continue to support new discoveries and developments by the company.

“There’s a lot of innovation,” he said.