LSB Industries Appoints Riccardo Bertocco to Board of Directors, Highlighting Strategic Focus on Growth and Energy Transition
LSB Industries, a leading producer of ammonia and ammonia-related products for industrial and agricultural markets, has announced the appointment of Riccardo Bertocco as an independent member of its Board of Directors, effective April 9, 2025. Mr. Bertocco is expected to stand for direct election by shareholders at the company’s upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled for May 15, 2025.
This strategic appointment marks a significant step in LSB Industries’ efforts to further strengthen its leadership team and continue its evolution as a forward-looking chemical manufacturer aligned with the global energy transition. Mr. Bertocco brings more than 25 years of experience in management consulting, where he has advised major corporations on complex issues involving strategy, transformation, and innovation across energy, technology, private equity, infrastructure, and other key sectors.
A Deep Background in Strategic Transformation and Energy Transition
Throughout his career, Riccardo Bertocco has cultivated deep expertise in navigating transformational challenges and opportunities faced by large-scale enterprises. His advisory work has helped guide companies through structural changes aimed at enhancing efficiency, driving growth, and embracing sustainable practices—core themes that align with LSB Industries’ current trajectory.
Most recently, Bertocco served as a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world’s most influential management consulting firms. From 2018 to 2023, he led BCG’s Power and Utilities sector with a dedicated focus on energy transition, low-carbon fuels, and renewable energy. In this capacity, he played a key role in supporting utility companies and energy producers as they adapted their operations and strategies to align with global sustainability mandates and shifting regulatory environments.
Before joining BCG, Bertocco spent a significant portion of his career at Bain & Company, another global consultancy known for its rigorous approach to performance optimization and growth strategy. At Bain, he worked extensively with oil and gas clients in both Europe and the Americas, helping them navigate the dynamic and often volatile energy markets. His insights into midstream infrastructure, decarbonization pathways, and the broader implications of carbon reduction have earned him recognition within the industry, including authorship of multiple white papers and thought leadership articles on these topics.
Bertocco holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan, one of Europe’s premier business institutions. He also earned an MBA with concentrations in Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served on several nonprofit boards, including a recent role with the Best in Class initiative in Dallas, further demonstrating his commitment to both community and corporate responsibility.
Strengthening the Board with a Vision for the Future
Commenting on the appointment, Mark Behrman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LSB Industries, emphasized the value Bertocco brings to the company at a pivotal time in its development.
“We are pleased to have Riccardo as a new member of our Board,” said Behrman. “We believe that his background in renewables and low-carbon products will be an asset to our Company as we evaluate our future opportunities in those markets. In addition, his experience in advising and guiding companies in their efforts to achieve operational excellence and growth will support our ongoing initiatives to maximize profitability and shareholder value.”
Indeed, LSB has been sharpening its strategic focus on operational efficiency, product diversification, and sustainability. The addition of Bertocco is expected to provide new insights as the company evaluates opportunities in green ammonia, hydrogen, and other low- or no-carbon products that are rapidly becoming central to the global energy landscape.
Transition in Board Leadership
As the company welcomes a new director, it also bids farewell to a long-serving member. LSB Industries announced that Richard Sanders has decided not to stand for re-election to the Board and will retire from his position following the 2025 Annual Meeting. Mr. Sanders’ departure marks the end of more than a decade of service, during which he played a significant role in LSB’s operational and financial transformation.
“Since becoming a member of our Board in 2014 and serving as our Interim EVP of Chemical Manufacturing in 2015 and 2016, Richard’s contributions have been invaluable,” Behrman stated. “His operational expertise and leadership helped guide our company through periods of change and improvement. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to thank Richard for his years of service and dedication, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Sanders’ decision to step down for personal reasons creates a space for LSB to bring in fresh perspectives while maintaining the continuity of its leadership strategy.
Positioning for Growth in a Changing Industry
The appointment of Riccardo Bertocco underscores LSB Industries’ ongoing commitment to growth, innovation, and environmental responsibility. As the world grapples with climate change and the need for cleaner energy sources, companies in the chemical manufacturing space are increasingly being called upon to modernize their operations and contribute to the broader decarbonization agenda.
LSB has already made notable strides in this direction. The company’s facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma produce essential nitrogen-based products for industrial and agricultural use. More recently, LSB has outlined its ambition to participate in the emerging clean energy economy through the development and sale of low-carbon ammonia, a product that can serve both as a fertilizer and as a hydrogen carrier for global energy systems.
By welcoming a director with firsthand experience in advising companies on energy transition strategies, LSB signals its readiness to play a more active role in this sector.
About LSB Industries
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, LSB Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of ammonia, nitric acid, and other ammonia-based products that serve a range of end markets including agriculture, mining, and industrial manufacturing. The company is also positioning itself to be a key player in the energy transition by focusing on the production of low- and no-carbon chemical solutions that can help reduce global emissions.
LSB Industries operates three primary chemical production facilities located in Cherokee, Alabama; El Dorado, Arkansas; and Pryor, Oklahoma. Additionally, the company manages operations for a global chemical partner at a plant in Baytown, Texas.
Through its dedication to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and long-term value creation, LSB Industries is committed to building a more sustainable future while continuing to deliver high-quality products that power vital segments of the global economy.
