Charles Hinnant, founder of the Charkit Chemical Company and a member of the LBB Specialties Advisory Board, announced yesterday that Darren J. Birkelbach has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of LBB Specialties. 
 

Mr. Birkelbach, who joined LBB Specialties in May 2019 as President, American International Chemical (AIC), will have oversight for all commercial and operational functions across LBB Specialties – including AIC, Charkit, and future acquisitions.  A seasoned industry executive with over 25 years’  experience in specialty chemical distribution, Mr. Birkelbach has a successful track record driving business growth in diverse roles that include sales and marketing, operations, and finance. 
 

In addition, Jay Lang, formerly President of Charkit, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Strategic Business Development for LBB Specialties.  In this capacity, Mr. Lang will lead key commercial growth initiatives for both organizations.  He also will play a key role in assessing potential acquisition targets for fit within the LBB Specialties portfolio.
 

Commented Mr. Hinnant, “LBB Specialties’ growth strategy will enable AIC and Charkit to offer our customers and principals even stronger partnerships than we can today.  Redeploying our two Presidents to enterprise-wide roles will facilitate strategic alignment to maximize growth, which LBB Specialties is committed to pursuing via the AIC and Charkit brands.” 
 

Concludes Mr. Birkelbach, “LBB Specialties is perfectly positioned for accelerated growth through our focused market coverage, strong relationships with specialty product principals, acquisition strategy, and commitment to provide top-notch service and quality to our growing customer base.   I‘m excited to begin my expanded role and the opportunity to work alongside the entire team to meet and exceed expectations.”