One of Lawrence’s larger manufacturing plants will have a new leader.

Keith Kennedy has been appointed to serve as general manager for Hallmark’s Lawrence production center, effective July 1.

Kennedy previously was serving as the general manager for Hallmark’s distribution facility in Enfield, Conn. He’s been with the Kansas City-based company since 1992 after serving 13 years in the U.S. Air Force.

Kennedy and his family plan to relocate to the Kansas City area, Hallmark officials said in a release.

Kennedy will replace Shannon Frost, who is returning to Hallmark’s headquarters to serve as global procurement director.

Hallmark’s Lawrence production center, 101 McDonald Drive, manufactures about 40 percent of all greeting cards sold by Hallmark. It employs about 550 people.