CHICAGO — Northwest Pipe Co. said late Monday that Scott Montross will become its president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1 as part of a planned leadership transition.

The Vancouver, Wash.-based steel tube and pipe maker said current president and chief executive officer Richard Roman will become executive chairman of the board of directors, while William Tagmyer, chairman of the board of directors since 1986, will become chairman of the executive committee.

Roman has been president and chief executive officer of Northwest Pipe since 2010, when he stepped in to replace former company leader Brian Dunham, who left the firm following a financial reporting issue (amm.com, Oct. 17, 2010).

Montross joined Northwest Pipe in May 2011 as executive vice president and chief operating officer (amm.com, May 20, 2011). Before joining Northwest Pipe, Montross served as executive vice president of the flat-rolled products group at Evraz Inc. North America, the company said.

Montross has also served as vice president and general manager of Evraz Oregon Steel and the vice president of sales at Oregon Steel Mills Inc., Northwest Pipe said.