# Ira Birns

> Ira Michael Birns is chief executive officer and a director of World Kinect Corporation, operating as World Fuel. He joined as CFO in 2007 after 18 years at Arrow Electronics, became president in April 2025, and became CEO on January 1, 2026. A Hofstra accounting graduate, he also chairs Stem’s audit committee and serves as vice chairman of the New World Symphony.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at World Kinect Corporation (operating as World Fuel)
- **Organizations:** World Kinect Corporation (World Fuel), Stem, Inc., New World Symphony, Hofstra University, Arrow Electronics (former employer), Association for Financial Professionals (former chairman), The Florida Holocaust Museum (board member)
- **Education:** BBA, Public Accounting, Hofstra University
- **Known for:** Helped strengthen working-capital management during the 2008 financial crisis., Served on Arrow’s management team during a period involving more than 75 acquisitions., Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional.

## Career timeline

- **1983** — Graduated from Hofstra University with an accounting BBA.
- **1989-1996** — Assistant treasurer at Arrow Electronics.
- **1996-2002** — Treasurer at Arrow Electronics.
- **2002-2007** — Vice president and treasurer at Arrow; added investor relations responsibilities in 2004.
- **2007-04-16** — Joined World Fuel Services as executive vice president and CFO.
- **2023-11-06** — Joined Stem’s board and became audit committee chair.
- **2025-04-25** — Promoted to president of World Kinect while continuing as CFO.
- **2026-01-01** — Became CEO and a director of World Kinect.

## Achievements

- Helped strengthen working-capital management during the 2008 financial crisis.
- Served on Arrow’s management team during a period involving more than 75 acquisitions.
- Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional.
- Established the Alfred and Edith Birns Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Hofstra.
- Appointed CEO after nearly two decades as CFO.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — On October 15, World Fuel scheduled its Q3 earnings call for October 29; the call was forthcoming as of the research date.
- **2026-09** — The company announced that Michael Kasbar will step down as executive chairman and Ken Bakshi will become chairman effective December 31, 2026.
- **2026-07** — World Kinect reported Q2 gross profit of $365 million and GAAP net income of $48 million.
- **2026-04** — Adopted World Fuel as its operating brand, retaining World Kinect as its legal name.
- **2026-04** — Hofstra profiled Birns and his scholarship.
- **2026-01** — Began serving as CEO on January 1.

## Links

- Website: https://www.worldfuel.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irabirns

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ira-birns
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21