Battery materials and lead-acid recycling firm Doe Run Company has promoted its vice president – law and general counsel, to president.
Matthew Wohl took the seat on 1 July from retiring president and CEO, Jerry Pyatt who will leave the firm on 31 December, 2021.
Wohl will take on the additional role of CEO from January 1, 2022.
Wohl joined Doe Run in 2009 as a senior corporate attorney, and became vice president – law and general counsel in 2011 where he led all aspects of the company’s legal efforts, including state and federal advocacy work to protect Missouri’s lead industry.
Pyatt said: “Matt’s background with both public and private sector companies in highly regulated industries will enable the company to navigate a course that advances new technologies in both lead battery recycling, as well as the extractive industries.”
Wohl said: “The natural resource industry, and in particular the mining and metals industry, is at a critical juncture.
“As a country, we will need every ounce of lead, copper, zinc, cobalt and many other metals we can get to support the battery technologies required to meet clean and renewable energy goals.”
Additional leadership changes
As a part of the leadership transition, Doe Run’s Crystal Saling is being promoted to vice president – law and general counsel. In her new role, Saling will also oversee the company’s IT department.
Brian Mangogna has been promoted to vice president – mining and milling. He joined the firm in 1998 as a metallurgist, and advanced through the company’s milling department to become general manager of the Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division (SEMO) in 2019.
He will oversee six mines, four mills and five water treatment plants as part of the company’s lead, zinc, and copper mining and concentrate production.
Tony Bogolin has become executive vice president – finance and HR, CFO and treasurer.
Michael Montgomery becomes vice president – environment, health and safety.
Lead recycling veteran
Pyatt began his career in the laboratory of Doe Run’s predecessor, St. Joseph Lead Company, where he then advanced through leadership and management positions before becoming the company’s COO in 2001, and president and CEO in 2012.
Pyatt said: “It has been a privilege to lead a 157-year-old company that has contributed in so many ways to our modern society.
“I am proud to have overseen the conversion of a primary lead smelter to a secondary smelter in 1991, the introduction of the first underground application of a modern, unmanned electric rail system to haul ore, and the development of hyrodmetallurgical processes that the company is poised to bring to market.”
Regulatory fine
In 2019, Doe Run denied it had failed to adequately conduct performance tests and communicate with regulators. However, the lead battery recycling firm was fined $1.2 million by Missouri regulators for ‘dozens’ of clean air violations over several years at its center in southeast Missouri.
