LAKE IN THE HILLS, Ill. — AFC Materials Group today announced three leadership appointments effective immediately. The changes advance a deliberate organizational structure designed to support AFC’s continued growth and operational performance:

Richard (Rick) Turek has been promoted to President & Chief Operating Officer; William Christopher (Chris) Lewis transitions to Chief Visionary Officer; and Hunaid Arastu has been promoted to General Manager of AFC’s Lake in the Hills, Illinois facility.

Richard (Rick) Turek — President & Chief Operating Officer (Integrator)

In his expanded role, Rick takes on the overall leadership of AFC’s direction, operations, and strategic execution while continuing to drive growth and operational excellence. Rick continues to report directly to Chris Lewis. Since joining AFC in 2022, Rick has established an enterprise-wide safety program, led the organization to ISO 9001:2015 certification, and driven measurable improvements in on-time delivery, quality, and operational efficiency. He also launched a new business entity and significantly streamlined AFC’s manufacturing footprint.

Prior to AFC, Rick served as Chief Operating Officer at a leading composite materials company in the building products sector and as Vice President of Operations at a global rigid packaging manufacturer. Over the course of his career, he has led more than 14 domestic and international acquisitions and integrations. Rick holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business Management from the University of Victoria, and has completed the Finance for Executives program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

William Christopher (Chris) Lewis — Chief Visionary Officer (Visionary)

Chris Lewis, who has been central to AFC’s development since joining as CFO in 1998 and assuming the role of President in 2015, transitions to Chief Visionary Officer. In this capacity, Chris will focus on long-range strategy, new products and markets, and the key customer, vendor, and partner relationships that will shape AFC’s future.

Under his leadership, AFC has grown into a multinational enterprise with sales expanding twelve-fold across every major continent and a portfolio of numerous global patents. Chris holds an MBA from Babson College’s Franklin W. Olin Graduate School of Business, a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Information Systems from Miami University and began his career at Accenture

“Rick’s leadership and the results he has delivered give us the platform to structure the organization in a way that plays to everyone’s strengths. With Rick fully accountable for operations, I can direct my energy toward the strategic relationships and opportunities that will define AFC’s next chapter. It’s the right structure at the right time.”
— Chris Lewis, Chief Visionary Officer

Hunaid Arastu — General Manager, Lake in the Hills

Hunaid Arastu has been promoted to General Manager of AFC’s Lake in the Hills, Illinois facility, where he will have direct responsibility for all plant operations, including safety, quality, productivity, and team performance, reporting to Rick Turek. 

Hunaid joined AFC as Director of Manufacturing and previously held roles of increasing responsibility, including Plant Manager, at Illinois Tool Works (ITW). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Chicago and an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

These appointments reflect the depth of talent at AFC Materials Group and the company’s commitment to developing leaders from within. AFC thanks its employees, customers, and vendor partners for their continued trust and partnership.

About AFC Materials Group

AFC Materials Group is a recognized leader in engineered specialty composite materials, serving customers across a wide range of industries worldwide. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and operational excellence, AFC delivers customized solutions that meet demanding performance requirements.

Media Contact
AFC Materials Group
Marketing@AFCMaterials.com
www.afcmaterialsgroup.com

Link: AFC_Leadership_PressRelease_May2026.pdf