By Dean Seal
Air Products & Chemicals has named a new chief executive after activist investor Mantle Ridge successfully ousted its longtime chief.
The provider of essential industrial gasses and chemicals said Tuesday that Eduardo Menezes has been appointed CEO, effective Feb. 7, and will join the board. He was previously an executive vice president for chemicals heavyweight Linde.
Menezes succeeds Seifollah Ghasemi, who had served as CEO for more than a decade. Shareholders voted Ghasemi off the board last month after a push by Paul Hilal's Mantle Ridge, which built a more than $1 billion stake in Air Products last year and pushed for Ghasemi departure.
Mantle Ridge also secured three seats on the industrial gas manufacturer's board. Hilal has taken one of those seats, alongside Dennis Reilley and Andrew Evans.
The company said Tuesday that Reilley has been named vice chairman. Wayne Smith, a director since 2021, has been appointed chairman.
Write to Dean Seal at dean.seal@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 04, 2025 09:42 ET (14:42 GMT)
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