KDV Label Names Keith Walz President and CEO

After 28 years, Shane Vaughn, the President and CEO of KDV Label, LLC (“KDV” or “The Company”), a leading label printing solutions company, recently announced that he will be retiring from his role as CEO and stepping away from KDV at the end of April 2023. The organization’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of Keith Walz as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Mr. Walz currently serves as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer.

Under Vaughn’s leadership, the organization grew more than four-fold to become a nationally recognized label solutions provider. “It was an incredibly tough decision to retire from KDV, which started in my parent’s garage and resulted in an incredibly successful business and lifelong friendships for both of them and myself,” said Vaughn. “However, the time is perfect for me to start a new chapter, and our family can rest assured that Keith Walz, the leadership team, Mason Wells, and the Board of Directors will continue to grow KDV with the same values as our family.”

Walz has served the organization as its Chief Financial Officer since 2021. Prior to joining KDV, he was President of Osborn, LLC, a manufacturer of industrial metal finishing products, and before that was the Vice President of Corporate M&A for Brady Corporation. Vaughn and Walz have worked closely together over the last 18 months, which offered many opportunities to share and learn what makes KDV’s operations and culture work so well.

Walz comes to the CEO role with more than 30 years of experience including an extensive background in the manufacturing industry focused on profit optimization, revenue and EBITDA growth strategy formulation, and business development. He has a proven track record of managing and growing teams to achieve organizational objectives. Walz’s time with KDV has already been impactful and his experience promises to continue to help KDV achieve its strategic plans.

“The opportunity to serve KDV as its CEO is an honor and privilege,” said Walz. “We will continue to make the Vaughn family proud of the company and culture each of us joined KDV to be a part of. We look forward to building on their legacy of leading with service.”

KDV Founders, Karen and Dick Vaughn are at the heart of the KDV brand and culture, by name and principles. They built KDV as reliable, trustworthy, and straightforward by focusing on the best interest of their customers and employees. In 2021, KDV became a Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV, LP portfolio company. Since Mason Wells has worked closely with the senior leadership team and Board of Directors to position KDV for future growth while maintaining the culture and processes that make KDV an exceptional employer and label manufacturer.
Mr. Walz’s appointment as CEO was unanimously approved by the organization’s Board of Directors following a national search. The Board, as well as KDV’s Executive Team, will be working closely together over the next month to support a seamless transition.

KDV Label, LLC is a label converter for a diverse set of consumer end markets, including beverage, food, health and beauty, automotive, and specialty consumer goods. Leading with service since 1974, brands choose KDV for the craftsmanship, creativity, collaboration, and care we put into working with each customer, not to mention working hard to help ensure our customers get the best value for their label packaging dollar, including pressure sensitive, digital, unsupported film, promotional, variable content, and expanded content labels.

Mason Wells is a Milwaukee-based private equity firm that has raised $2.4 billion in aggregate across five independent buyout funds. The firm is currently investing out of Mason Wells Buyout Fund V, a $767 million fund. Since Mason Wells was formed in 1998, its buyout funds have invested in four specific industry sectors: Consumer Packaged Goods, Outsourced Business Services, Engineered Products & Services, and Packaging Materials & Converting. For more information related to Mason Wells, please visit the firm’s website at www.masonwells.com.