Hodgdon Powder Company announced that current Chief Executive Officer Tom Shepherd will be retiring next year. Shepherd’s last day with the company will be December 31, 2017.

According to Hodgdon, Shepherd has been with the company nearly 15 years and has served as CEO since 2002.

When he retires, Shepherd will assume the role of chairman of the Hodgdon Powder Company’s board of directors. Current chairman, Bob Hodgdon, said the company has been working on developing a transition plan for Shepherd and the entire Hodgdon family is “excited for Tom as he prepares for the next stage of his career with Hodgdon.”

While Shepherd has been CEO, the Hodgdon Powder Company experienced record sales growth – tough shoes for the next CEO to follow. The company stated it would begin a search for the next CEO by the middle of next year. The company will examine candidates both inside and outside of the company for the position.

Currently, Hodgdon is the largest supplier of smokeless, black powder and black powder substitutes in the United States. The company owns and/or distributes powders under a variety of names including Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester, VihtaVuori and Goex.

Hodgdon made several new powder announcements for the coming year that includes the CFE BLK and Red, Blue and Green IMR powders.