Westport Fuel Systems named Nancy S. Gougarty the company’s chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Gougarty will be replacing David R. Demers who is retiring from the company but will remain available to the leadership team in an advisory role during the transition. Demers has been CEO and a member of the board since the company was formed in 1995.

Gougarty has been in the transportation equipment industry for nearly 30 years, serving in senior automotive executive roles with several large automakers and auto parts companies. Gougarty has been president and chief operating officer of Westport since July 2013 and was also a member of the board.

"As the founding CEO of Westport, his entrepreneurial spirit and unmatched passion have been instrumental in making Westport a technology leader in natural gas transportation," said Warren J. Baker, chairman of the Westport board.

“Nancy has proven her ability to work through complex development projects with major global original equipment manufacturers OEMs with a clear sense of what drives profits," said Baker. "Her most recent collaborative efforts leading the integration teams following the merger with Fuel Systems Solutions Inc., highlighted her skill in managing diverse groups across Europe, Asia and North America while stewarding key relationships with suppliers and joint venture partners.”

Westport Fuel Systems engineers, manufactures and supplies alternative fuel systems and components for transportation and industrial applications.