W. R. Grace & Co. announced that its Board of Directors has designated Hudson La Force to succeed Fred Festa as Chief Executive Officer. La Force, who currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer, will become CEO in the fourth quarter upon Festa’s retirement. Previously, Grace announced that Festa will retire as CEO and remain as non-executive Chairman. La Force has been Grace's President and Chief Operating Officer since February 2016 with responsibility for Grace's Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies business segments and global manufacturing and supply chain operations. He joined the company as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2008. Prior to joining Grace, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Counselor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education. Before entering public service in 2005, he held general management and financial leadership positions with Dell Inc., AlliedSignal Inc. (now Honeywell), Emerson Electric Co., and Arthur Andersen & Co.