Board of Directors

Business Unit Leaders

Leadership Council

Leroy M. Ball is Chief Executive Officer of Koppers and serves on the company’s Board of Directors. Under Leroy’s leadership, Koppers focuses on safely and sustainably delivering customer-focused solutions through the development and application of technologies to enhance and preserve wood. Additionally, he has placed special emphasis on advancing the company’s people-first culture.

Leroy joined Koppers in September 2010 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, providing oversight for the finance, treasury, information technology and investor relations functions. From May to December 2014, he held the role of Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for the company’s global business operations. He was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2015.

Prior to Koppers, Leroy spent 10 years with Calgon Carbon Corporation, an international chemical company. During this time, he served as Controller before being named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2002. He also served as President of the company’s majority-owned Japanese joint venture. Previously, Leroy held several positions in finance with Carmeuse Lime Co./Dravo Corporation.

Leroy is a member of the Board of Directors for ATI Inc., a global specialty materials company, and Highmark Inc., a leading health insurance organization. Active in the local community, he serves on the Boards of Directors for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Advanced Leadership Initiative (TALI), and the Duquesne Club.

In 2024, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Three Rivers Chapter honored Leroy with the Director of the Year Award for Leadership in Company Governance. In 2020, he received the Chuck Cooper Foundation Leadership Award for his commitment to promoting diversity and making a positive community impact. In 2019, DEKRA Organizational Safety and Reliability recognized him with its Safety in Action ICON Award. In 2018, the 

 selected Leroy as an Outstanding CEO. He also was honored in 2016 with the Board Diversity Ambassador Award from 2020 Women on Boards, Pittsburgh.

Leroy received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida International University and earned an MBA from Robert Morris University.

He resides in the Pittsburgh area with his wife, Ginger, and is the proud father of two daughters, Leah and Ally.

Chief Executive Officer + Board Chairman

Dr. Feng retired as the Director of Science & Technology and Global Analytical Sciences for PPG Industries, Inc., a public company and a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, and specialty materials, in June 2023. Previously, she served as PPG’s Director of Research, Industrial and Packaging Coatings from June 2018 to March 2020. From September 2012 to June 2018, Dr. Feng held the positions of Executive Director and subsequently the Senior Associate Dean for Budget and Strategy of the University of Chicago’s Institute for Molecular Engineering, an interdisciplinary research institute and academic unit of a private research university.

Dr. Feng holds a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, which has provided her with a technical background and a strong expertise in the specialty chemicals industry. Dr. Feng’s technical and industry experience, her experience in risk management and regulatory compliance, and her knowledge of environmental risks and best practices, developed through her leadership positions with PPG Industries, Inc., Bayer Material Science LLC and Lanxess Corporation, provide an invaluable perspective to the board’s discussions. In addition, her insights into international business development, particularly in Asian markets, contribute to the board’s consideration of operations in that region.

Board Member 

Ms. Jensen has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of H.B. Fuller Company, a global adhesives manufacturer since December 2022. From January 2020 through December 2022, Ms. Jensen served as Vice President, Global Business Process Improvement, H.B. Fuller Company. From September 2016 to January 2020, Ms. Jensen served as Senior Vice President, Global Construction Adhesives, at H.B. Fuller Company and from January 2012 to September 2016, Ms. Jensen served as Senior Vice President, Americas Adhesives, at H.B. Fuller Company. Additionally, Ms. Jensen serves on the board of H.B. Fuller Foundation and previously served as Executive Committee Chairman on the Adhesives and Sealants Council.

Ms. Jensen’s experience in international operations within the chemicals industry and unique chemicals industry insights, developed through her leadership responsibilities in areas such as manufacturing, sales, marketing, research and development, and human resources, bring important perspective to the board’s discussions. In particular, Ms. Jensen’s international expertise contributes to the board’s consideration of our global operations.

Board Member

Mr. Motley has served as Managing Partner with BlueTree Venture Fund, a venture fund based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since April 2012. In addition, Mr. Motley has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of MCAPS, LLC, a professional services company, since January 2018. From February 2011 to July 2017, Mr. Motley served as Senior Managing Partner of Headwaters SC, a private equity advisory services company.

During his career, Mr. Motley has served in various leadership roles involving strategic planning, business group management, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate portfolio management. With more than 30 years of experience in consulting with executive management across multiple industries, Mr. Motley has been instrumental in developing corporate diversity initiatives in the U.S. and has also served as a director on various non-profit charitable and educational organizations. Mr. Motley is also an experienced board member, having served as a director of F.N.B. Corporation, a public financial services corporation, since July 2013. In addition to his board experience, Mr. Motley’s knowledge and experience in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate growth initiatives deliver valuable insight to the board and enhance Mr. Motley’s ability to evaluate these matters as a member of our board.

Mr. Neupaver has served as the Chairman and subsequently the Executive Chairman of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, a public company and one of the world’s largest providers of value-added, technology-based equipment and services for the global rail industry, since May 2017. From May 2014 to May 2017, Mr. Neupaver served as the Executive Chairman of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation. From February 2006 until May 2014, Mr. Neupaver served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation. His operational knowledge and leadership skills are further demonstrated by his additional public company experience at AMETEK, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices, where he served as the President of the electromechanical group from 1998 to February 2006.

Mr. Neupaver is also an experienced board member, having served as a director of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation since 2006, a director of Robbins & Myers, Inc., a public company and leading supplier of engineered equipment and systems, from January 2009 to February 2013 and a director of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a public company and owner/operator of short line and regional freight railroads, since October 2015. His other affiliations include service on the board of directors of the Carnegie Science Center, the board of trustees of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. Mr. Neupaver’s experience as a chief executive officer allows him to better assess our operational risks and growth opportunities.

Lead Independent Director

Mr. Sandifer has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FMC Corporation, a global agricultural sciences company, since May 2018. 

From March 2016 through May 2018, Mr. Sandifer served as Vice President and Treasurer of FMC Corporation. Before joining FMC Corporation, Mr. Sandifer was Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, for ARAMARK Corporation. Prior to ARAMARK, Mr. Sandifer spent seven years with Rohm and Haas Company, now part of The Dow Chemical Company, where he held roles in strategic planning, sales, marketing, investor relations, and general management. 

Earlier in his career Mr. Sandifer spent five years with the Boston Consulting Group and held engineering, operations and technical roles with International Paper and James River Paper companies. Mr. Sandifer serves on the board of trustees of Germantown Academy, a private school near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he is a member of the finance, audit, and investment committees. He was a member of the board of directors of Philabundance, the leading hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley, from 2014 to 2022, serving as Board Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee from 2017 to 2022.

Mr. Sandifer brings to the board broad international business experience guiding organizations through major transitions, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic realignment, restructuring and enterprise resource planning system implementation.

His experience spans multiple industry sectors, with an emphasis on technology-driven product and materials businesses.

Mr. Vartanian has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MSA Safety Incorporated (“MSA”), a global developer, manufacturer and supplier of safety products and software that protect people and facility infrastructures, since June 2023. As part of a planned management succession, Mr. Vartanian intends to retire as Chief Executive Officer of MSA in May 2024. Since joining MSA in 1985, Vartanian has served in a variety of roles of increased responsibility, including as President of MSA North America, and Senior Vice President and President of MSA Americas. Mr. Vartanian served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of MSA from May 2020 to May 2023 and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of MSA from May 2018 to May 2020. Mr. Vartanian has served as a director of MSA since December 2017. Mr. Vartanian serves on the boards of trustees or the Manufacturers Alliances for Productivity and Innovation, the International Association of Firefighters Foundation and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. He is also a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Branch.

Mr. Vartanian brings to the board a wealth of first-hand knowledge and experience in global markets, with particular specialization in safety-related products and practices. He has extensive executive management experience in the manufacturing industry, including in the oversight and execution of business strategy, product development, marketing, sales and finance.

Ms. Wilkerson has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Bloom Energy Corporation, which designs, manufactures and sells solid-oxide fuel cell systems, since January 2019. From December 2016 to January 2019, Ms. Wilkerson served as the Senior Vice President, Human Resources, at Infinera Corporation, a vertically integrated packet-optical solutions provider, serving the largest network operators in the world. From November 2014 to December 2016, Ms. Wilkerson served as Vice President, Human Resources, at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. From October 2004 to October 2014, Ms. Wilkerson served as Director, Human Resources, at Cisco Systems.

Ms. Wilkerson brings years of global and diverse experience having served as a Vice President of Administration, responsible for human resources, information technology and facilities management for both domestic and international operations. In addition, Ms. Wilkerson has led merger integration activities and successfully managed the joining of diverse international cultures. Ms. Wilkerson’s depth of experience in human resources and talent management, especially with respect to planning for the workforce of the future, serve as a unique resource and valuable viewpoint in the board’s discussions.

From our company-wide Zero Harm commitment to the sustainability-based practices and products we undertake, everything we stand for at Koppers starts with our leadership teams.

Meet Our Leaders

Board of Directors

Leroy Ball

Sharon Feng

Traci Jensen

David Motley

Albert Neupaver

Andrew Sandifer

Nish Vartanian

Sonja Wilkerson

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