(NASDAQ: ARTW), a manufacturer and distributor of niche agricultural machinery, equipment and services, announces it has hired Bryant Phillips as group vice president. 

In his new role, Phillips will have full P&L responsibility for Ohio Metal Working Products/Art's Way Inc., Art's Way Manufacturing International LTD, Art's Way Vessels Inc., and Universal Harvester by Art's Way Inc. divisions. In this role he will report directly to Art's Way Manufacturing, CEO Carrie Majeski, operating out of Art's Way's Armstrong, Iowa, headquarters. 

Phillips has over 25 years of experience in both publicly traded and privately owned sectors in numerous industries. Prior to joining the company, he served as president and CEO for Nixon Power Services Co. from 2005 to 2013, where he was successful in leading the "cultural" transformation of an eight-figure revenue company into that of a process-oriented and accountable workforce, driving growth by 37%. 

Nixon Power is the world's largest distributor of Kohler Power Systems, for which Nixon was awarded the North America Distributor of the Year for 2011. In addition, Nixon was awarded North America's Distributor of the Year for GE Gas Engines four times during his tenure. 

Previously, Phillips served in a C suite position at a $200+ million division of Brunswick Corp., a multi-billion dollar recreational products manufacturing and global distribution company, where he was identified as one of the top 125 members of the Brunswick Global Leadership Team. 

Phillips holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has successfully completed post-graduate work at the Univ. of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Fuqua Graduate School of Business, at Duke Univ., and Kenan-Flagler Graduate School of Business, UNC-CH. 

Carrie Majeski, CEO of Art's Way Manufacturing Co. Inc. said, "Bryant's business management degree and background, his outstanding personality, confidence and communications skills makes him an ideal choice to lead us in this important group vice president role. His experience in defining and achieving goals through the development, implementation and execution of our long-term global objectives will be a true asset to the company."