Why Did Air Products (NYSE:APD) Name Two Group Presidents and What Changes on November 1?

Sonal Goyal

28 October 2026 12:12 AM AEDT

Why Did Air Products (NYSE:APD) Name Two Group Presidents and What Changes on November 1?

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Key Highlights

Kurt Lefevere and Francesco Maione were appointed Group Presidents, effective November 1, 2026.
Lefevere, currently President of Air Products Asia, becomes Group President, Americas.
Maione, currently President, Americas, Helium and Rare Gases, becomes Group President, EMEA and Asia.
Both executives will continue to report to Chief Executive Officer Eduardo Menezes.

Air Products (NYSE:APD) announced on October 26, 2026 that Kurt Lefevere and Francesco Maione have been appointed Group Presidents, effective November 1, 2026. Both executives will continue to report to Eduardo Menezes, the company's Chief Executive Officer. The industrial gases company, based in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, said the two executives will take on responsibility for complementary regional and global business portfolios. According to Air Products, the new structure is designed to support accountability, coordination and execution across its businesses, customer relationships and projects.

Lefevere Takes the Americas Portfolio

Kurt Lefevere, who is currently President of Air Products Asia, has been appointed Group President, Americas. His remit covers North America and South America atmospheric gases and North America HyCO. It also includes the Membrane Solutions, Gardner Cryogenics and Rotoflow equipment businesses, along with Global HyCO Project Delivery, Equipment Sales and Plant Support. In addition, he will oversee the company's interests in joint ventures that fall within his areas of responsibility.

Maione Moves to EMEA and Asia

Francesco Maione, currently President, Americas, Helium and Rare Gases, has been named Group President, EMEA and Asia. Air Products said his responsibilities span its businesses and operations in Asia, Europe and Africa, the Middle East and India. They also cover Helium and Rare Gases, and Global Air Separation Unit and Standard Plant Solutions Project Delivery, together with the company's interests in joint ventures in his areas. The company added that Lefevere and Maione will work closely with Menezes and Air Products' executive leaders to drive performance across their respective portfolios and to create development opportunities across the organization.

Why This Could Matter

The release links the appointments to the company's stated priorities. Menezes said the moves reflect confidence in both executives and in the depth of leadership talent at Air Products. He said their industry expertise, global perspectives and knowledge of the company would help it profitably grow its industrial gases business, accelerate in areas of strength, and extend its reach and competitiveness. He also said the structure more closely connects the company's project delivery capabilities with the businesses and customers they support. For shareholders and customers, the announcement sets out who will hold each regional and global portfolio from the November 1 effective date, and it places project delivery within the Group President responsibilities in both cases.

Wrapping Up

Air Products has restructured part of its senior leadership by appointing two Group Presidents, each with a defined mix of regional businesses, equipment operations, project delivery and joint venture interests. The company, which reported fiscal 2025 sales of $12 billion from operations in approximately 50 countries, said both executives will remain accountable to its Chief Executive Officer from November 1, 2026.

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