SPOKANE VALLEY, WA -- Key Tronic Corp. promoted Craig Gates to president and chief executive, effective immediately, replacing Jack W. Oehlke, who resigned for health reasons.

Gates, 50, was executive vice president and general manager since August 2002, and has served in top marketing, sales and engineering roles since joining Key Tronic in 1994.

Gates was formerly with Honeywell's Microswitch Division, and has a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a MBA from the University of Illinois.

The electronics manufacturing services firm did not disclose Oehlke's illness, but said he would continue as an employee until Dec. 31 to assist in the transition.