PDH
Paul D. Householder
Executive Advisory & Consulting

Paul D. Householder

Helping industrial companies, PE-backed firms, and boards unlock operational performance through hands-on executive partnership.

Former President & CEO of Ag Growth International ($1.5B, TSX: AFN). Three decades of global P&L leadership across six countries — delivering record revenue, record margins, and measurable leverage reduction.

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30+ Years of
Leadership
$1.5B Revenue Under
Management
6 Countries
Operated In
2 Public Company
Boards
Experience With
Air Products NYSE: APD Ag Growth International TSX: AFN Alamo Group NYSE: ALG
01 Services

How I help.

I partner with organizations navigating complex operational challenges — not as a slide-deck consultant, but as a hands-on operator who has sat in the seat.

01

Operational Advisory

Diagnose and resolve operational bottlenecks, improve manufacturing efficiency, and build scalable processes. Ideal for companies facing integration challenges, margin pressure, or growth-stage complexity.

For: Industrial companies, PE portfolio companies
02

Board Service

Independent board participation with deep operational perspective. Compensation committee experience, governance best practices, and the pattern recognition that comes from running a public company.

For: Public and private company boards
03

Interim Leadership

Step into CEO, COO, or GM roles during transitions, turnarounds, or leadership gaps. Immediate impact from day one — no ramp-up required for industrial environments.

For: Companies in transition, PE firms
04

Post-Acquisition Integration

Align operations, culture, and financial performance across newly combined organizations. Hands-on integration playbook built from experience with multi-country manufacturing consolidations.

For: Acquirers, PE firms, corporate development teams
02 Expertise

Where I create value.

P&L Leadership

Full profit-and-loss ownership of multi-hundred-million-dollar business units. Proven across regional, national, and international scopes with consistent growth delivery.

Global Operations

Led industrial operations across the US, Brazil, Canada, India, France, and Italy. Deep experience navigating regulatory environments, cultural dynamics, and supply chain complexity at scale.

Operational Excellence

Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Directed continuous improvement programs across global engineering organizations, driving efficiency and quality at every level.

CEO & Board Advisory

Experience as President & CEO of a TSX-listed public company and Independent Director on a NYSE board. Understands governance, investor relations, and executive leadership from both sides of the table.

Industrial Manufacturing

Deep expertise across industrial gases, specialty chemicals, food infrastructure, and agricultural equipment manufacturing. From process engineering to enterprise strategy.

Growth & Integration

Led post-acquisition integration, organic growth strategies, and organizational redesigns. Experienced in aligning operations, culture, and financial performance through periods of transformation.

Who I work with.

Industrial Companies

Manufacturing, process, and infrastructure businesses ($100M–$2B revenue) facing operational complexity, leadership transitions, or growth inflection points.

Private Equity Firms

Sponsors with portfolio companies in industrials who need operational diligence, post-acquisition integration support, or interim executive leadership.

Boards & Governance

Public and private boards seeking independent directors with deep operational experience, compensation committee expertise, and a CEO's perspective on strategy.

03 Career

A record of results.

2022 — 2026

President & Chief Executive Officer

Ag Growth International TSX: AFN

Led a $1.5B global food infrastructure company with manufacturing across 6 countries. Delivered record annual revenue of $1.53B and record Adjusted EBITDA of $294M (25% YoY growth). Improved EBITDA margins from 16.1% to 19.3% — highest in company history. Reduced net debt leverage from 3.7x to 2.8x, achieving sub-3.0x for the first time in years. Built record order book of $747M.

$1.53B Revenue $294M EBITDA Record Margins Leverage Reduction
2021 — 2022

Chief Operating Officer

Ag Growth International TSX: AFN

Appointed to newly created COO role — the first in AGI's history. Led initiatives to streamline operations, drive growth, and enhance customer experience across AGI's entire global manufacturing platform. CEO Tim Close cited Paul's "proven ability to implement change and successfully drive operational excellence at facilities worldwide."

First-Ever COO Role Created for Him Global Platform
2019 — 2021

EVP, International → EVP, Global Operations

Ag Growth International TSX: AFN

Joined AGI to lead all international businesses — operations spanning Brazil, India, France, and Italy. Scope expanded within a year to include North American operations, reflecting the immediate operational impact delivered. International businesses grew to over $500M in revenue, representing 34% of total company revenue.

$500M+ International Revenue Promoted in 12 Months
2015 — 2019

Vice President & General Manager, Industrial Gases

Air Products NYSE: APD

Full P&L ownership of the Western US region for a Fortune 500 industrial gases company (~$10B revenue). Senior VP-level leadership of a major business unit with direct accountability for growth, operations, and customer relationships across multiple states.

Fortune 500 Full P&L VP-Level
2012 — 2015

Managing Director, Brazil → GM, West Region

Air Products NYSE: APD

Full P&L ownership of Brazilian operations, then transitioned to lead the US West Region. International general management with direct market accountability.

International P&L Brazil
2010 — 2012

Director, Continuous Improvement

Air Products NYSE: APD

Led Lean Six Sigma deployment across Global Engineering as a certified Master Black Belt. Built systematic approaches to operational efficiency at enterprise scale.

Master Black Belt Global Engineering
1991 — 2010

Progressive Leadership Roles

Air Products NYSE: APD

Nearly two decades of advancement through engineering, sales, business development, and asset management roles. Built deep domain expertise in industrial gases and specialty chemicals across US and China markets.

19 Years US & China
04 Process

How we work together.

1

Discovery Call

A candid conversation about your situation, challenges, and goals. No sales pitch — just a clear-eyed assessment of whether I'm the right fit for your needs.

2

Diagnostic Assessment

I spend time understanding your operations, team, and constraints before recommending anything. Good advice requires good context — shortcuts here cost time later.

3

Engagement

Flexible structures — from monthly advisory retainers to embedded interim roles. Scoped to your timeline and budget. I stay until the work is done, not until the contract runs out.

Start With a Conversation
05 About

Operational excellence
at global scale.

Paul D. Householder is a proven C-suite operator who has led global industrial businesses from the plant floor to the public company boardroom. As President & CEO of Ag Growth International (TSX: AFN), he delivered record revenue of $1.53B, record EBITDA of $294M, and the highest margins in company history — while simultaneously reducing leverage below 3.0x for the first time in years.

A Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with 28 years at Air Products (NYSE: APD), Paul combines deep engineering discipline with proven general management instinct. He has led P&L-accountable businesses across the US, Brazil, Canada, India, France, and Italy. His career spans two NYSE/TSX-listed industrial companies, and he currently serves as an Independent Director on the board of Alamo Group (NYSE: ALG).

Education

Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program
Lehigh University Master of Business Administration
Lafayette College BSc, Mechanical Engineering

Certifications & Industries

Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Industrial Gases Specialty Chemicals Food Infrastructure Agricultural Equipment Public Company Governance
06 Advisory

Board & advisory roles.

Active

Alamo Group, Inc.

NYSE: ALG

Independent Director

Global manufacturer of infrastructure maintenance and vegetation management equipment. 40+ brands across two divisions serving municipalities, contractors, and agriculture professionals worldwide. CEO Jeffery Leonard: "Paul brings decades of valuable international experience to the Board."

Appointed February 2024
Former

Ag Growth International

TSX: AFN

Board Director (as President & CEO)

$1.5B global leader in food infrastructure — grain handling, storage, conditioning, and processing equipment. Manufacturing across Canada, US, Brazil, India, France, and Italy. Board Chair Bill Lambert: "Paul is highly regarded throughout our organization."

2022 — 2026

Industry Presence

BMO Capital Markets — 18th Annual Farm to Market Conference Presented on inflation impact, energy transition, M&A outlook, and carbon markets New York, May 2023
07 Connect

Let's discuss how I can
help your organization.

Available for executive advisory, board service, interim leadership, and operational consulting engagements.

Connect on LinkedIn paul@paulhouseholder.com