Matt O’Brien
Matt O’Brien is Executive Vice President (EVP) & President for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Specialty Minerals (HSM). Since 2015, he and his team have transformed ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’s industrial Calcium Carbonate business into a multi-mineral platform, adding nutritional Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) and, most recently, Attapulgite and Air-Float Kaolin segments to the portfolio. They’ve accelerated the growth of the core business, successfully integrated five acquisitions, turned around an underperforming segment, and ultimately tripled the revenue and quintupled HSM’s earnings. In 2022, the revitalization of the Nutrition business was recognized with ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’s highest corporate honor, the Mike ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gold award.
Prior to joining HSM, Matt spent 10 years in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Engineered Woods (HEW). As Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Strategy, he helped steer the organization through the largest housing downturn in US history and on-board ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’s first-ever Operating Board. As Chief Commercial Officer, he led Sales, Marketing & Supply Chain, where he and his team helped accelerate the growth of ZIP System®, expanded HEW’s sales team and marketing capabilities, and successfully negotiated multiple long-term contracts with Fortune 500 suppliers. Matt started his career at ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Corporation (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½) in 2002 as VP of Corporate Strategy.
Matt previously served on the Board of Directors for Magnifin, a joint venture between ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and RHI Magnesita, ultimately helping ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ acquire the company under the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Advanced Materials business.
Before joining ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, Matt worked at Bain & Company in Boston and London. He began his career serving as a Combat Engineer Officer in rapid deployment forces in the US Army, and is a graduate of Airborne, Ranger, Air Assault and Sapper Leader courses.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in Materials Engineering from Rutgers University and an MBA, with distinction, from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.