Founder of Addison Trucking Firm Daseke Inc. Steps Down as CEO, Chairman

This story is developing and will be updated.Don Daseke, founder of a namesake trucking company that's grown into a $1 billion-a-year business, is stepping aside as the Addison firm's CEO and chairman.Daseke's retirement, effectively immediately, was announced Thursday before trading markets opened. In early trading, Daseke Inc. shares were down 4.5% to $1.92. A year ago, its stock was at $8.78.The company's board of directors elevated Chris Easter, Daseke's chief operating officer, to interim CEO. Daseke, who'll remain on the board as chairman emeritus, will work with Easter in an advisory role during the firm's CEO search."The board has the utmost regard for Don and wholly respects his decision to pass the reins of leadership to the next phase of Daseke's evolution," said new board executive chairman Brian Bonner in a statement.Under Daseke's tenure, the company grew from $30 million in revenue in 2009 to more than $1.6 billion last year. He engineered the growth through a series of acquisitions that made Daseke the nation's largest flatbed and specialized trucking company.   Continue reading...