PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Evoqua Water Technologies announced today that James Irwin has been named Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development. In this newly created position, Irwin will lead Evoqua’s acquisition activities. He will also work with its businesses on further developing and implementing their growth strategies as part of Evoqua’s plan to double the reach of its business over the next five years. Irwin will report to Evoqua CEO, Ron Keating.
In addition to leading the Company’s global M&A and strategy activities, Irwin will also work with Evoqua businesses to implement consistent and effective integration programs to maximize the potential and value of acquisitions.
“Jim’s experience in global M&A, integration and strategy development will be critical given our ambition to drive considerable growth through acquisition, and we’re glad to have him join Evoqua following our two recent acquisitions and our plans for more,” said Ron Keating, Evoqua CEO.
In the past two months, Evoqua has completed two acquisitions: Neptune Benson the leading manufacturer of high-quality water filtration and disinfection products for the recreational, industrial, and municipal water markets; and Magneto Special Anodes B.V. with operations in Schiedam, the Netherlands and Suzhou, China.
Irwin joins Evoqua from A. Schulman, Inc., a leading $2.4 billion international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins used in a variety of markets, where he most recently served as Vice President Corporate Business Development. During his tenure with A. Schulman, Irwin developed strategies to meet corporate growth objectives and oversaw the group’s worldwide M&A activities. He orchestrated the acquisition and integration of three highly strategic companies with domestic and international operations, the most recent being the transformational acquisition of Citadel Plastics. This $800 million acquisition strategically provided a new growth platform and significantly diversified global revenues.
Prior to joining A. Schulman, Irwin spent four years with Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. where he served in various M&A, business development and strategy roles of increasing responsibility, including Senior Director — Corporate Development and M&A. At Cliffs he led the successful completion of 15 acquisition and divestiture transactions, the vast majority of which were cross-border deals, ranging in size from less than $10 million to nearly $5 billion. Prior to joining Cliffs, Irwin spent 14 years as an M&A advisor and investment banker at KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., where he led the successful execution of 43 M&A and capital-raising transactions.
Irwin holds a master’s of business administration degree from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Toledo. He will be based in Evoqua’s World Headquarters in Warrendale.
About Evoqua
Evoqua Water Technologies is the global leader in helping municipalities and industrial customers protect and improve the world’s most fundamental natural resource: water. Evoqua has a more than 100-year heritage of transforming water and wastewater through innovation and industry firsts, market-leading expertise, and unmatched customer service. Its cost-effective and reliable treatment systems and services ensure uninterrupted quantity and quality of water, enable regulatory and environmental compliance, increase efficiency through water reuse, and prepare customers for next-generation demands.
Evoqua’s unparalleled portfolio of proven brands, advanced technologies, mobile and emergency water supply solutions and service helps cities across the world provide and discharge clean water, and enable leisure and commercial industry to maximize productivity and profitability. For more information, visit www.evoqua.com.
