AUBURN – A new chief executive is taking the helm at Formed Fiber Technologies.

Mark Bennett, former president and CEO of McKechnie Vehicle Components, replaces David MacMahon, who presided over the automotive trunk trim manufacturer for 23 years.

Bennett takes over April 15, but has been on site at the Allied Road manufacturer for a week, acquainting himself with its processes.

“There is an overlap of leadership; we expect a smooth transition,” said Lydia Howes, spokeswoman for FFT.

Bennett has more than 24 years in the automotive industry, beginning his career as a material handling manager at Arrow Molded Plastic and advancing quickly to plant manager. He had been CEO and president of McKechnie since 1999.

MacMahon has accepted a position as chief operating officer at KAI-id, a Falmouth industrial design firm, co-founded by his son, Mark. He will oversee daily operations, including project management, administration and customer service functions.

Howes said MacMahon had been planning to step back from FFT for a while, citing the grinding travel schedule.

“Last year he was on the road 100 days,” she said. “He was looking for something that would allow him to be home more.”

KAI-id specializes in product development and outsourced engineering solutions. It offers industrial design, engineering, concept development and modeling services.

Bennett was welcomed by FFT Chairman Fred Festa, saying the new executive’s background is a good fit with FFT.

“Mark knows the automotive supply business, personifies our company’s values and has a hands-on management style,” he stated in a release. “His extensive manufacturing experience and management experience will make him an ideal leader.”

Howes said because of Bennett’s two decades in the the automotive parts industry, he understands its exceptionally stringent production standards.

“The level of quality demands very precise specifications,” she said. “Just-in-time (manufacturing) now means a matter of hours or even minutes. Our trucks are arriving and products going directly into the cars.”

FFT, formerly Gates Formed-Fibre, makes specialized liners for automotive trunks. In 2003, Gates was purchased by Morgenthaler Partners, a private equity firm and renamed. In the past five years the company has doubled in size and now reports annual sales in excess of $150 million. It employs 1,000 people at manufacturing facilities in Maine, Ohio and South Carolina.