Borgman will retire.

After 11 years at the wheel of Les Schwab Tire Centers, Dick Borgman has announced he will retire as CEO at the end of June, ending his 28-year career with the company.

The company has named Jack Cuniff, the company’s chief financial officer since 2008, to take over July 1 as CEO.

During his tenure, Borgman, 62, took the company on its expansion run from 179 to 481 tire center locations that employ about 7,000 people in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. It currently has reported sales of about $1.8 billion.

“Dick’s been a tremendous leader,” said Dale Thompson, Les Schwab chief marketing officer. “He led us through the recession and made us what we are today.

“Jack is a key member of our executive team. He has a tremendous understanding of the culture and business model of Les Schwab.”

Before joining Les Schwab, Cuniff worked for Adidas America for 20 years where he was the chief financial officer.

“We’re excited to have such a capable successor in Jack,” said Stan Renecker, a member of the company’s board of directors since 1990, in a prepared statement. “His promotion allows the company to continue its tradition of elevating talented, inspiring leaders with a genuine understanding and appreciation of the company’s culture and its business model into positions of senior leadership.”

Borgman started at Les Schwab in 1990 as its first general counsel. Moving through the management ranks, Borgman developed an information system to manage inventory, logistics and updated the company’s website and boosting customer communication, according to the company.

The tire retailer was founded in 1952, when Les Schwab bought O.K. Rubber Welders tire store in Prineville and reopened it as his own. The company was founded on the principle that customers want honest advice, a good job, and a company that stands behind its work and shares its success with its employees.

The privately held company’s headquarters was opened in Prineville in the 1960s and later moved to Bend. Les Schwab recently demolished its former Prineville headquarters.

Les Schwab supports the communities it’s in with donations to schools and other community groups.

— Reporter: 541-633-2117, sroig@bendbulletin.com