ParexLahabra, the parent company of building material brands Parex, LaHabra, El Rey Stucco, Teifs, Mer-Krete and Mer-Ko, has announced the retirement of ParexLahabra, Inc. president Francois Bouan effective Oct. 1., 2009. He will be succeeded as ParexLahabra’s president by current executive vice president, Rodrigo Lacerda.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Francois for over 16 years”, said Buck Buchanan, vice president of sales and marketing at ParexLahabra. “During a conversation in 1996 I informed him he would become the next president of EIMA. Some found it humorous a French man was to be president of a growing American trade association. His personality served him well and at the end of his term, as EIMA president, he was a very highly respected and strong leader.”

In 1991, Bouan was promoted to executive vice president of Parex, becoming president in January 1992. He also served on the board of the EIFS Industry Manufacturers Association (EIMA) from 1991-2000 and as president from 1996-1998.