Full-Time
Commercial Finance Leader
Updated on 9/3/2026
Ketjen
201-500 employees
Advanced catalysts for refining and petrochemicals
No salary listed
Houston, TX, USA
Hybrid
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA
 Finance & Banking (1) |
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- A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in commercial finance, business finance, financial planning and analysis, or a related discipline, with strong commercial and business finance expertise.
- A bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience supporting pricing, mix, customer or product profitability, and commercial decision-making.
- Strong financial modeling, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to connect financial results to business drivers.
- Proven ability to influence senior leaders and partner effectively across commercial, operational, and finance functions.
- Ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly and translate analysis into practical recommendations.
- Strong alignment with the company's stated values of curiosity, care, collaboration, humility, accountability, and integrity.
- Lead and develop the enterprise Commercial Finance Center of Excellence, establishing consistent approaches, standards, and tools across the organization.
- Partner with business and commercial leaders to shape growth strategies and evaluate financial implications, risks, and tradeoffs.
- Provide financial leadership for commercial planning, performance management, and strategic decision support.
- Promote a commercially focused, data-driven mindset that balances revenue growth, margin improvement, and long-term value creation.
- Lead financial analysis and recommendations related to pricing, product and customer mix, contract economics, and margin improvement.
- Evaluate customer, product, channel, and market profitability to identify opportunities and inform commercial actions.
- Develop and monitor commercial performance measures, including pricing effectiveness, margin trends, and profitability drivers.
- Support the development of pricing strategies and governance that improve discipline, transparency, and accountability.
- Deliver timely financial insights, scenario analyses, and business cases to support commercial decisions and investments.
- Translate complex financial and commercial data into concise recommendations for senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Partner with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Operations, and other Finance teams to improve forecasting and business performance.
- Identify opportunities to improve commercial finance processes, reporting, analytics, and decision-support capabilities.
- An advanced degree or relevant professional certification, such as an MBA, Certified Public Accountant, or Certified Management Accountant.
- Experience leading a commercial finance team, Center of Excellence, or enterprise-wide finance capability.
- Experience in petrochemicals, refining, specialty chemicals, manufacturing, or another complex business-to-business environment.
- Experience with pricing analytics, profitability tools, business intelligence platforms, and enterprise financial systems.
- Demonstrated success improving profitable growth, margin performance, or commercial finance processes.
Ketjen provides advanced catalyst solutions for the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. It offers three divisions: Fluidized Catalytic Cracking catalysts to boost high-octane gasoline and propylene production, Clean Fuels and Hydroprocessing catalysts for hydrotreating and hydrocracking (including renewable fuels), and Performance Catalyst & Curative Solutions, with Albemarle retaining ownership of PCS. Notable technologies include the QUASAR platform for hydrotreating and SaFeGuard to protect FCC units from iron poisoning, with collaborations with ExxonMobil, SK Energy, and Eurecat. Ketjen serves 25+ markets worldwide and aims to help customers improve efficiency, yields, and sustainability, including renewable fuels like SAF and renewable diesel and plastics recycling programs.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Houston, Texas
Founded
2023
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- KPS closed its controlling acquisition on March 2, 2026, backing Ketjen operationally.
- André Lanning became CEO on April 15, 2026, bringing 10 years refining-catalyst experience.
- Imubit pilots began May 12, 2026, extending Ketjen’s digital services into AI optimization.
What critics are saying
- Albemarle kept PCS on March 2, 2026, stripping Ketjen of adjacent specialty-catalyst cross-sell.
- Ketjen’s March 2026 KPS buyout leaves minority Albemarle ownership and split incentives.
- Pilot Imubit deployments stay limited to North America and Europe, delaying revenue scaling beyond 2026.
What makes Ketjen unique
- Ketjen and Aramco signed a March 24, 2026 FCC joint development agreement.
- Ketjen’s iKet Connect platform fuses catalyst models, lab data, and refinery telemetry.
- SaFeGuard cut iron poisoning in a 30-day trial, boosting FCC accessibility 77%.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Comprehensive benefits package
Remote Work Options
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Wellness Program
Mental Health Support
Gym Membership
Conference Attendance Budget
Professional Development Budget
Stock Options
Company Equity
Flexibile Work Hours
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Leave
Hybrid Work Options
Phone/Internet Stipend
Home Office Stipend
Parental Leave
Family Planning Benefits
Fertility Treatment Support
Adoption Assistance
Childcare Support
Elder Care Support
Relocation Assistance
Employee Referral Bonus
Tuition Reimbursement
Professional Certification Support
Mentorship Program
Meal Benefits
Legal Services
Employee Discounts
Company Social Events
Company News
Ketjen and Imubit partner to bring ai-driven catalyst intelligence to refineries. May 13, 2026 / HOUSTON: Ketjen has partnered with Imubit to introduce advanced AI-powered catalyst intelligence solutions designed to enhance refinery performance, operational stability, and decision-making in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydroprocessing units. The collaboration combines Ketjen's deep expertise in catalyst technologies, laboratory analysis, and optimization strategies with Imubit's real-time industrial AI platform capable of continuously learning from live refinery operations. Together, the companies aim to provide refiners with faster insights, predictive operational guidance, and improved process visibility through Ketjen's iKet Connect digital platform. By integrating live process data with advanced analytics and catalyst expertise, refinery operators will gain near-real-time recommendations tailored to current operating conditions. The system is designed to detect operational deviations early, quantify performance impacts, and support more informed decisions related to catalyst management, process optimization, and unit efficiency. The partnership reflects the growing role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in modern refining operations, where companies are increasingly seeking smarter tools to improve profitability, reliability, and sustainability in complex processing environments. Initial pilot projects are already underway with refinery customers across North America and Europe, with broader global expansion planned in the coming years. The initiative marks another significant step toward AI-enabled refining operations where real-time data, automation, and technical expertise work together to optimize industrial performance.
Ketjen Corporation, a catalyst and specialty chemicals company, has appointed André Lanning as chief executive officer, succeeding retiring CEO Michael J. Simmons. The Houston-based firm is backed by KPS Capital Partners. Lanning brings 35 years of senior management experience in the chemicals industry, including a decade in refining catalysts. He previously served as CEO of TFL Ledertechnik and Advanced Refining Technologies, a joint venture between WR Grace and Chevron. As CEO, Lanning will focus on accelerating Ketjen's strategic priorities and delivering solutions to customers worldwide. Ketjen serves global customers in 25 markets, providing catalyst solutions for petrochemical and refining industries. KPS Capital Partners manages approximately $19.1 billion in assets as of December 2025.
Ketjen and Aramco collaborate on FCC catalysts. Published by Ellie Brosnan, Editorial Assistant Hydrocarbon Engineering, Wednesday, 25 March 2026 10:00 Ketjen Corp. and Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), a subsidiary of Aramco, have entered into a joint development agreement (JDA) to co-develop, test, and deploy next-generation fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives. The collaboration is designed to help elevate the performance of Aramco's refineries and affiliates by potentially optimising product yields and reducing environmental impact. This agreement brings together the technical expertise, research capabilities, and innovative ecosystems of both organisations. Through close collaboration, SATC and Ketjen will aim to help accelerate the development of proprietary FCC catalysts and additives. These advancements are expected to support enhancing refinery performance by increasing yield of high-value products such as gasoline and propylene, while helping to lower the environmental footprint of Aramco's refining operations. This strategic collaboration aims to combine Aramco's decades of innovation in refining catalysts with Ketjen's recognised expertise in FCC catalyst development, manufacturing excellence, and technical depth. By aligning Aramco's operational insights with Ketjen's R&D capabilities, the collaboration is expected to deliver precision-engineered solutions that enhance refinery performance, optimise resource utilisation, and advance Aramco's goals. Together, Ketjen and Aramco aim to set the stage for advancements in efficiency, yield optimisation, and environmental stewardship. Bob Leliveld, Chief Technology Officer at Ketjen, said: "With proven expertise in FCC catalyst innovation, Ketjen is proud to collaborate with a global energy leader like Aramco. This collaboration is expected to support the development of next-generation catalyst solutions, aligning with Aramco's global operational strategies and setting a new standard for efficiency and performance across the industry." Faisal Al-Otaibi, Director of Aramco's Research and Development Center, commented: "By co-developing next-generation catalysts and FCC solutions with Ketjen, we are not only optimising processes but also setting a new benchmark for the industry. This partnership is expected to accelerate our ability to unlock molecular-level efficiency, reduce emissions, and convert raw materials into higher-value products. Our collaboration with Ketjen reflects our ongoing focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence." Through this joint initiative, both companies reaffirm their efforts to help advance the refining industry. The JDA reflects a shared vision to potentially deliver technologies that help meet the evolving demands of the energy sector and address global market challenges. p>A podcast series for professionals in the downstream industry featuring short, insightful interviews. Subscribe on your favourite podcast app to start listening today. Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below):