Mortar Net Names New President

Mortar Net USA Ltd., producer of moisture management solutions for the masonry industry, has named Gary R. Johnson as president. Johnson succeeds Tom Sourlis, the founder, who continues as chairman of the board and the company’s principal inventor.

“Gary has served the company as an outside director for seven years, making him familiar with our organization, industry and growth opportunities," says Sourlis. "We are pleased to bring his business leadership experience to Mortar Net and are confident the company will continue to prosper under his guidance.”

Gary Johnson is an executive with broad experience in technology companies to serve global markets. He was chairman, president and CEO of Sawyer Research Products Inc. in Cleveland, producer of quartz crystal for electronic and optical applications. After forming a private equity group to acquire the company from a corporate owner, he led the development of new products related to mobile telephones and automotive electronics to achieve a sales growth rate of more than 30 percent per year for more than a decade.

He next worked with multiple venture capital groups in advisory, director, and CEO capacities to envision and execute paths to commercialization for emerging technologies. Most recently, he was CEO of Blue Spark Technologies Inc. in Cleveland. Blue Spark is a pioneer in developing printed batteries to power printed electronics systems to enable a new category of products with extraordinary thinness and flexibility.

“I am delighted to join the Mortar Net team,” says Johnson. “Under Tom’s leadership, he and the team have established a proud record of nearly 20 years of innovation and growth that provides a solid foundation for the future. Mortar Net has a talented organization, superior market position, and the resources to support continued success. I look forward to working with the management team and business partners to address the exciting challenges and opportunities that are before us.”