Norm Johnson, the leader of Franklin-based filtration and packaging company Clarcor, has relinquished one of his titles in what appears to be the first step of a succession plan.

Chris Conway has been named president and chief operating officer of Clarcor effective immediately. Conway, 55, has been president of the company's PECOFacet division since 2007 and will report directly to 61-year-old Johnson, who is still Clarcor's chairman and CEO.

“Chris is uniquely qualified for this new position,” Johnson said. “He will expand our ability to manage our current operating businesses while we continue to seek out and integrate new opportunities and technologies.”

Conway came to Clarcor in 2006 as vice president of manufacturing of its Baldwin Filters subsidiary. A year later, he was tapped to lead PECOFacet. His latest promotion gives Clarcor its first COO since 2000, when Johnson was named chairman and CEO on top of his president title.