Seasoned Executive to Advance Growth and Capabilities Across the Company’s North American Footprint
BWT LLC (“Bluewater Thermal Solutions” or “Bluewater”), a portfolio company of Aterian Investment Partners (“Aterian”), today announced the appointment of Patrick McKenna as Chief Executive Officer and Director, effective immediately.
McKenna brings more than 25 years of leadership and innovation experience in the metals thermal processing industry. He most recently served as President & CEO of Ipsen USA, a global provider of vacuum furnace technology to the thermal processing sector. In that role, he led all corporate operations, overseeing a team of more than 250 employees at Ipsen’s U.S. based Vacuum Center of Excellence, while driving commercial success across international markets.
Prior to Ipsen, McKenna was most recently Co-Founder, Board Member, and Vice President of Nevada Heat Treating / California Brazing. There, he helped transform the business from a traditional commercial heat treating operation into a world-class Nadcap-accredited provider of turnkey manufacturing solutions serving major aerospace OEMs.
“I’m honored to join Bluewater Thermal Solutions at such a dynamic time for the industry,” said McKenna. “With a strong operational footprint, a dedicated team, and a reputation for technical excellence, Bluewater is well positioned for growth. I’m eager to work alongside our employees, customers, and partners to build on the company’s momentum and drive our capabilities forward.”
Brandon Bethea, Co-Founder and Partner at Aterian, expressed strong confidence in the new leadership:
“Patrick has excelled in every role he’s taken on. His deep industry expertise and sharp eye for commercial growth make him the ideal leader to guide Bluewater into its next phase. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.”
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