The Lubrizol Corp. (Wickliffe, Ohio; www.lubrizol.com) announced the promotion of J. Brian Pitts to corporate vice president, chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer. Brian Pitts succeeds Brian Valentine who has announced his decision to leave the organization later this year.
Pitts has worked for Lubrizol since 1998 in accounting and finance assignments, including segment controller and positions in business finance, financial planning and analysis, and operations finance. In 2009, Pitts undertook a three-year expatriate assignment in Shanghai as the director of finance – Asia Pacific. From 2012 to 2015, he served as vice president of finance for Lubrizol’s Advanced Materials segment. In 2015, he was named general manager of TempRite Engineered Polymers, where he had responsibility for the global TempRite Engineered Polymers organization and for developing the business’s growth strategy.
CEO Eric Schnur states, “Brian Pitts brings a unique blend of global, commercial and finance skills to this role. His capability and experience, including general manager, vice president of finance for Lubrizol Advanced Materials, and living and working in China, positions him to be very successful as our next CFO.”
Pitts holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and a Master of Business Administration degree in accounting from the University of Alabama.
Valentine joined Lubrizol in 1998 and has served as Lubrizol’s chief financial officer since 2011. He was named assistant treasurer in 2008 and treasurer in 2009. Valentine has been a valued contributor to Lubrizol’s success, including his work on all financing activities related to the company’s $2 billion Noveon acquisition and he was instrumental in the refinancing of $500 million in public debt following the 2008 credit crisis.
Schnur comments, “Brian Valentine has been a trusted member of our management team, and I have enjoyed and benefited from his counsel. I fully support his interests and wish him all the best as he moves on to his next career opportunity.”