Andersen Corp. announced yesterday that Jim Humphrey, who has been chief executive officer (CEO) since 2003, will retire from active management on March 31, 2011. Humphrey will continue to serve as the company’s board chair and will be succeeded as CEO by Jay Lund, who currently serves as Andersen’s president and chief operating officer. The company says these steps are part of a planned succession.

“It has been an honor to lead Andersen Corp. For more than a century, it’s been one of the most respected companies in our industry. It remains so today and I am proud to have been part of its success,” says Humphrey. “I look forward to turning my attention from management to governance.”

Since he joined Andersen in 1999, Humphrey has led the shift to a more customer-centric organization with actions such as streamlining the company’s distribution system to build more direct customer relationships. Humphrey also led the expansion of the product portfolio through internal growth and acquisition, and he has been deeply involved in leadership development, which he believes will have an enduring impact on Andersen’s long-term success, according to the company.

Lund joined the company in 1985 and, prior to that, he spent four years at Andersen Consulting as a business consultant, with Andersen Corp. as one of his clients. Over the last 25 years, Lund has held a series of progressively responsible positions including IT, marketing, sales, distribution and logistics.

Lund was named chief operating officer in 2008 and president in 2009. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. He is a member of the Andersen Corp. board of directors and also serves on the Andersen Corporate Foundation Board.