Ketjen Corporation, a leader in catalyst and specialty chemicals innovation, today announced that André Lanning has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, succeeding retiring CEO Michael J. Simmons. Lanning will guide Ketjen through its next stage of growth and development.
As CEO of Ketjen, Lanning will focus on accelerating Ketjen’s strategic priorities, driving continued operational excellence and delivering industry-leading solutions, service and quality to customers worldwide.
“We are excited to welcome André Lanning to Ketjen,” said Rahul Sevani, Partner of KPS Capital Partners, LP. “André is a proven leader with deep expertise across the chemicals and refining catalyst industries. His track record of driving growth, strengthening operations and building high-performing organizations makes him uniquely suited to lead Ketjen. We are confident he will accelerate the Company’s strategic agenda and deepen Ketjen’s relationships with customers and technology partners globally.”
Lanning is an experienced industry leader with 35 years of senior management experience in the chemicals industry, including 10 years in refining catalysts. Most recently, he served as CEO of TFL Ledertechnik, a global leader in leather chemicals, where his leadership set up the company for significant growth as the global leader in its industry. Previously, Lanning served as CEO of Advanced Refining Technologies (ART), a joint venture between WR Grace and Chevron. Throughout his distinguished career, Lanning has held senior leadership roles in the Refining Catalysts, Pulp & Paper, Fertilizer and Plastics sectors, demonstrating a strong commitment to commercial and operational excellence and industry advancement.
“I am honored to join Ketjen at this pivotal time under new ownership. Ketjen has the technology, the people, and the market access to win. The priority now is consistently delivering clear value to our customers through strong execution, expanding our portfolio and strengthening operational performance. At the same time, we will continue to develop market-leading technologies that differentiate us and reinforce our position as a partner of choice. I look forward to working with the team to unlock that potential.”
Discover how Ketjen is unlocking the power of advanced chemistry to enhance refinery performance and reliability by visiting www.ketjen.com.
About Ketjen
Ketjen is a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical and refining industries. From fluidized catalytic cracking to clean fuels solutions and hydro-processing, Ketjen delivers safe and reliable solutions that maximize production performance and business value. Ketjen is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and serves global customers in 25 markets. For more information, visit www.ketjen.com.
About KPS Capital Partners, LP
KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with approximately $19.1 billion of assets under management (as of December 31, 2025). For over three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better, and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds’ portfolio companies currently generate aggregate annual revenues of approximately $22.2 billion, operate 200 manufacturing facilities in 21 countries, and have approximately 55,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide (as of December 31, 2025). The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at www.kpsfund.com.
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