Steve Lineberger Joins ABT as COO

GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Veteran senior executive Steve Lineberger has been named chief operating officer of Greensboro, NC, based Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc.

“I was quickly drawn to ABT’s entrepreneurial spirit and culture of placing the customer’s interests and needs at the forefront of every decision”

The announcement was made today by Ken Fearn, ABT president and chief executive officer, who said his rapidly-growing company was fortunate to attract an executive of Lineberger’s considerable experience and proven talent.

Lineberger, 54, was affiliated for five years with Krispy Kreme Corporation, most recently as president of U.S. franchise operations and senior vice president of corporate strategic planning. Earlier, he was associated for 17 years with Sara Lee Corporation (now HanesBrands), most recently as CEO of Sara Lee Casualwear.

“I was quickly drawn to ABT’s entrepreneurial spirit and culture of placing the customer’s interests and needs at the forefront of every decision,” Lineberger said. “This is a company that has identified an important niche in the industrial battery marketplace, and is achieving phenomenal growth.”

ABT was founded in 2000 by Fearn and his wife, Sarah, to engineer, furnish, install and service industrial battery and charging systems for battery-powered electric forklifts, automated guided vehicles, and airline ground support equipment, as well as back-up power systems for data centers, telecommunications, central offices and cell sites. Fearn said the company is on track to achieve 2012 sales of $32 million, up from more than $28 million in 2011. It has offices in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. In addition, it will soon be expanding into Virginia. ABT serves Fortune 1000 size customers and others in approximately 15 states.

As he assumes his COO role with ABT, Lineberger will have oversight responsibility for all its operational functions, including administration, finance, human resources and service/support.

Civically, Lineberger serves on the WFU College Board of Visitors, is Trustee Emeritus at Lees McRae College, and is past chairman of the board for Leadership Winston-Salem and for the Center for Congregational Health.

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