W.L. Gore & Associates this week announced that Jason Field will succeed Terri Kelly as president and CEO of the Newark-based materials science company. The transition will officially take place April 1.

Field joined Gore in 2005 as a product specialist focusing on medical devices that treat thoracic aortic aneurysms. He eventually led the aortic business before shifting over to sales and marketing. Today he leads global sales and marketing.

“I am excited to work alongside my fellow Associates to shape the future of our enterprise,” said Field. “We have strong organizational momentum, and I look forward to creating value for all our stakeholders by applying my passion for exceptional customer experiences, innovation and Associate engagement to improve life for our customers, communities and associates.”

Kelly will serve on Gore’s board of directors through July.

“After nearly 35 years as an Associate, I’ve decided to retire from Gore and pursue some outside interests. I’m looking forward to applying my learnings and experiences to help other organizations,” said president and CEO Terri Kelly. “Jason’s strong leadership skills, track record of success in product, business and functional roles, and his ability to engage all stakeholders to create exceptional outcomes position him well for leading Gore.”