Leadership

Meet GEO Specialty Chemicals' Leadership Team

Jeremy Steinfink is the CEO of CPS Performance Materials. Prior to joining CPS in 2018, Mr. Steinfink was the President and General Manager of Vertellus Specialties, a leading provider of specialty chemicals for agriculture, nutrition, pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, medical, personal care, plastics, coatings and other industrial markets. Prior to joining Vertellus Specialties in 2008, Mr. Steinfink served in various management roles at Honeywell International. Mr. Steinfink has an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from Tufts University.

Bob Nobile is the CFO of CPS Performance Materials. Prior to joining CPS in 2018, Mr. Nobile served as the CFO of Paperworks Industries, a portfolio company of Sun Capital. Mr. Nobile also previously served as CFO/SVP of OPNEXT, as CFO/SVP of Kodak Polychrome, as CFO of Polychrome Corp. and in various roles at Arthur Anderson. Mr. Nobile is a CPA and has a B.S. in Accounting from St. John’s University.


Louis Graham is the Chief Safety, Process Safety & Environmental Officer for GEO.  He joined GEO in June 2012 as Director, Process Safety Management/Compliance.  In January 2015, he assumed responsibility for Environmental Affairs and in August 2018, Mr. Graham was promoted to his current role.  Mr. Graham has over 30 years of experience in the chemical industry.  Prior to joining GEO Mr. Graham held various plant and corporate leadership roles in Engineering, Environmental Affairs, Safety & Process Safety for Hercules Incorporated, Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., and Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex, LLC.  While with Dow Reichhold he served as Chairman of the Delaware Chemical Industry Council.  He is a native of Montana and received his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University.

Jacqueline Higgins, SHRM-SCP is Vice President of Human Resources.  She joined GEO in August of 2014 as the Human Resources Manager.  Prior to GEO Ms. Higgins held senior Human Resources positions in the apparel industry, career network industry and government.  Ms. Higgins received a B.A. in Organizational Management from Cabrini College and an M.S. in Human Resources Development from Villanova University.  She is a member of The Society for Human Resource Management as well as the local Philadelphia chapter.         

Simon Haythornthwaite is Managing Director of GEO Specialty Chemicals UK Ltd.  He joined the Hythe site in 2000 and has held various commercial and marketing positions, most recently serving as Sales and Marketing Director before being appointed as Managing Director in 2022.  Prior to joining Hythe, Mr. Haythornthwaite began his career at ICI.  Mr. Haythornthwaite holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Bristol and an MA in Development Economics from the University of Sussex.

Erik Dihrkop is President of Deer Park Glycine & Vice President of GEO Americas.  He joined GEO in November of 2013 as Account Manager for the Paints & Coatings Division.  He has held the roles of Global Sales Manager, Vice President & General Manager of the Specialty & Construction Division, and Vice President of Integration & Supply Chain before moving into his current position.  Prior to joining GEO, Mr. Dihrkop began his career as Chemist for Sigma-Aldrich Isotec before transitioning into Technical Sales Representative for the West Coast.  Mr. Dihrkop received a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Chemistry, with focus on organic synthesis, from Wright State University.