# Joe Berquist

> Joe Berquist is the chief executive officer and president of Quaker Houghton, appointed on November 18, 2024 after joining the company in 1997. A chemical engineering graduate of Youngstown State with a Case Western Reserve MBA, he progressed from technical service to regional leadership, merger integration, strategy and global commercial responsibility. His public record also includes STEM education partnerships and an earlier life as a bassist in the Youngstown band the Februarys.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and President at Quaker Houghton
- **Organizations:** Quaker Houghton, Quaker Chemical Corporation, AK Steel, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia (historical education committee chair and board member), Drexel University LeBow Management Department Advisory Council
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.E. in Chemical Engineering, Youngstown State University, MBA, Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management
- **Known for:** Co-led integration planning for the 2019 Quaker-Houghton combination; the company reported that the combination nearly doubled its size and generated over $80 million in synergies., Had been involved in executing 24 company acquisitions by the time of his November 2024 CEO appointment., Helped develop Quaker’s STEM education partnership with the Norristown Area School District and collaboration with the STLE Philadelphia Section.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1997** — Worked at AK Steel in Middletown, Ohio; described his early professional role as blast furnace engineer.
- **1997** — Joined Quaker Chemical as a technical service specialist in cold rolling.
- **2004-2005** — Served as Regional Sales Manager, Metalworking, beginning November 2004.
- **2006-2008** — Progressed through metalworking/fluid-power business management and director roles.
- **2008-2010** — Senior Director, Commercial, North America from late 2008.
- **2010-2019** — Vice President and Managing Director, North America from April 1, 2010 through July 2019.
- **2017** — Named co-lead for integration planning of the proposed Quaker-Houghton combination.
- **2019** — Became Senior Vice President, Global Specialty Businesses and Chief Strategy Officer in August.
- **2021** — Promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director, Global Specialty Businesses in September.
- **2022** — Additionally served as Interim Managing Director, EMEA, August-December.
- **2023** — Became Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer in January.
- **2024** — Appointed CEO, President and director effective November 18.

## Achievements

- Co-led integration planning for the 2019 Quaker-Houghton combination; the company reported that the combination nearly doubled its size and generated over $80 million in synergies.
- Had been involved in executing 24 company acquisitions by the time of his November 2024 CEO appointment.
- Helped develop Quaker’s STEM education partnership with the Norristown Area School District and collaboration with the STLE Philadelphia Section.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — On October 15, Quaker Houghton scheduled its Q3 earnings release for October 29 and investor call for October 30; results were still pending as of October 23.
- **2026-10** — On October 1, the company announced a $550 million seven-year Term Loan B refinancing; Berquist said the transaction increased capital-structure flexibility.
- **2026-07** — Q2 results released July 30 reported $532.6 million net sales, 7% year-over-year sales-volume growth and $85.2 million adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure.
- **2026-06** — The company announced a new Zhangjiagang manufacturing facility and expanded Shanghai laboratory, which Berquist linked to Asia-Pacific growth.
- **2026-05** — Berquist announced recognition of retiring chairman Michael F. Barry through a learning center and a Drexel leadership fellowship.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephaberquist1995

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/joe-berquist
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23