Chairman & CEO Michael Kasbar to Transition to Executive Chairman
John Rau Promoted to President
Jose-Miguel (Mike) Tejada Appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
World Kinect Corporation (NYSE: WKC), a global energy management, logistics and solutions company, today announced a series of executive leadership appointments. Effective January 1, 2026, the Board of Directors has appointed Ira M. Birns as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Birns succeeds Michael Kasbar, the company’s Chairman and CEO. Mr. Kasbar will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board, effective January 1, 2026.
Also effective January 1, 2026, John Rau, currently Chief Operating Officer, has been promoted to President and will continue to oversee the company’s global commercial operations.
Mike Tejada, currently Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, is being promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective immediately after the filing of the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2025.
“Together, Ira, John, and Mike represent a world-class leadership team that will strengthen our ability to capture opportunities and deliver sustainable growth in today’s dynamic global energy market,” said Mr. Kasbar. “Ira has been instrumental in shaping the financial foundation of World Kinect. His leadership and deep understanding of our business will be critical as we expand customer solutions and pursue long-term value creation for shareholders. John’s elevation to President recognizes his proven track record in delivering measurable internal and customer-facing operational improvements. Mike’s appointment as CFO underscores our ongoing commitment to financial and operational rigor.”
Mr. Birns has been with World Kinect for more than a decade. He was named President in April 2025 while continuing to serve as Chief Financial Officer, after serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, where he helped strengthen the company’s financial position, instill greater capital discipline, and position the business for long-term value creation.
“I am honored to be appointed CEO and join the Board at such a pivotal moment in World Kinect’s journey,” said Mr. Birns. “With Michael’s continued support, John’s operational leadership, and Mike’s financial discipline, supported by our deeply experienced global team, we will continue strengthening our core businesses, while delivering the long-term value of our platform through consistent execution and service excellence.”
John Rau, who joined World Kinect in 2011, was appointed Chief Operating Officer in April 2025. “As President, my focus will be to continue driving operational excellence and efficiency gains while advancing our commercial strategy for long-term value creation,” said Mr. Rau.
Mike Tejada has held multiple finance leadership roles since joining World Kinect, most recently as Chief Accounting Officer. “World Kinect has built a reputation for financial discipline, transparency, and strong performance,” said Mr. Tejada. “I look forward to continuing that tradition and further strengthening our financial foundation to support the company’s growth objectives.”
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