Our Leaders
A culture of ownership that begins at the top
Leadership at WD-40 Company
The number one responsibility of our leaders is to coach and prepare the next generation of employees to lead our organization. We believe that is ultimately the key to our continued growth and future success.
You don’t build a business. You build people and then the people build the business.
Zig Ziglar
Our Leaders
Steve Brass
President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
Steve Brass
President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
“Although each region has its unique characteristics, we are all guided by the same strategy, vision and values and we all strive to create positive lasting memories in everything we do.”
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As president and chief executive officer of WD-40 Company, Steve is responsible for developing and implementing high-level strategies, all operations, and the oversight of all relationships and partnerships for the company.
Steve is passionate about the power of learning, building a global business, and leveraging culture as a competitive advantage. Steve has been with the company since 1991 and most recently held the role of president and chief operating officer. Prior to that role, he held various management positions with the company, including division president (Americas) and chief brand officer, European commercial director, European sales director, director of continental Europe, country manager Germany and international area manager.
Steve is a native of the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor’s degree in French and German, and an executive MBA from the London Business School. Steve holds a certificate of excellence for attending the Chief Executive Officer program at UC Berkeley. In 2018, he was certified by Marshall Goldsmith as a Stakeholder Centered Coach.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
A native of Yorkshire, Steve relocated his entire family to San Diego from Britain in 2016. Steve speaks German and French fluently but continues to struggle with American English. Steve looks forward to “breaking 100” now that he lives in a place where he doesn’t have to spend six months of the year obsessing about whether it’s going to rain or shine.
Christophe Cloëz
Managing Director, EMEA
Christophe Cloëz
Managing Director, EMEA
“The world is beautiful because it is diverse. At WD-40 Company, our end-users, our colleagues, and our investors are diverse and global. The magic of our WD-40® Brand is that it is meaningful to all, whoever they are, wherever they live, and whatever they do.”
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As the managing director of WD-40 Company’s EMEA segment, Christophe Cloëz is responsible for overseeing all operations throughout Europe, India, Middle East and Africa.
Christophe has been with the company since 1996 and most recently held the role of commercial director, Southern Europe. Prior to that role, he held various management positions with the company, including regional director for Italy, France and Africa. Christophe has started our French office, opened our Italian branch and created the Global Brand Team.
Christophe is committed to building simultaneously highly effective teams and our brands.
Christophe studied business in both France and the United States. He received a Master of Business Administration and Finance from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Pau and his Master of Business Administration from Clemson University.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Christophe is originally from Le Mans, France and was born right across the street from the famous Circuit of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Christophe has a passion for traveling and enjoys experiencing local cultures. Of course, being fluent in French, English, Italian and understanding German and Spanish helps. However, for Christophe, any life experience is only meaningful if it is shared with family, friends, or colleagues.
Doug Cyphers
Vice President, Global Information and Technology
Doug Cyphers
Vice President, Global Information and Technology
"I aspire to meaningfully serve and mentor our people through positive change, and the adoption of effective technology solutions and services, that will enable WD-40 Company to achieve its desired business and cultural outcomes."
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As vice president, global information and technology, Doug has responsibility for driving the global IT vision, strategy, and brand that effectively delivers desired global business outcomes in a secure manner.
Since 2017, Doug has been a part of the WD-40 Company where he started as the IT leader for the Americas and Asia-Pac trading blocs, and the corporate function. Doug has experience serving as chief information officer among other senior roles in various organizations and industries for more than 30 years. Doug has been nominated for and won several professional awards for his contributions.
Doug received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Augsburg College, and his Master of Business Administration from Capella University.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
When Doug isn’t volunteering on local non-profit Boards, his two favorite activities are traveling and camping with his family. Having spent most his life in Minnesota, he enjoys the California weather and spends as much time outdoors as possible.
Alina Darragh, Ph.D.
Global Director Environmental Programs
Alina Darragh, Ph.D.
Global Director Environmental Programs
"You do not need to wait for extraordinary circumstance to do good, doing the right thing should always come first in every, even smallest decision. This is why we chose it to be our number one value."
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As global director environmental programs, Alina Darragh is responsible for the developing and executing the company’s overall strategy for environmental sustainability. In her role she is responsible for the globally coordinated implementation of programs and processes that reduce the negative environmental impacts of the Company’s operations.
Alina has been with the company since 2011 and most recently held the role of Technical Director for EIMEA. Prior to that role, she held various management positions with the company, including senior R&D and compliance manager and product commercialization manager. Alina is currently chairman of board of the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA).
Alina received her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Bath, her Master of Business Administration from The Open University, and her Master of Science in Chemistry from University of Nicolaus Copernicus.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Alina is originally from Poland and moved to United Kingdom to fuel her passion for learning. Alina enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and together they share a passion for table football (foosball.) They have multiple tables at home to practice and often go to national and international competitions. In 2011, as part of Team GB, Alina won silver medal at the Table Football World Cup.
Claudia Fenske
Vice President, Global Brand and Innovation
Claudia Fenske
Vice President, Global Brand and Innovation
"At WD-40 Company we inspire, empower, connect, and engage with our global community to experience the power of "Getting the Job Done Right." We want our community to thrive by delivering innovative, and value-add solutions that enhance their everyday lives, while fostering a culture of creativity and agility. Together we are building a company that we will be proud to hand down to our next generation."
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As the Vice President of Global Brand and Innovation, Claudia oversees the strategic direction of global brand, product, and innovation initiatives with a focus on sustainability. In her position she fosters global collaboration and creativity among our marketers that translate vision into actionable strategies by placing our end-users at the heart of everything we do.
Claudia joined WD-40 Company in 2012 and most recently held the role of Sales Director, USA. Prior to that role, she held diverse leadership positions throughout the organization. Her previous roles include sales and marketing director of Canada, and America’s innovation development manager. Claudia is passionate about building and championing high performing teams and promoting diversity of thought within the organization.
Claudia received her MBA from University of San Diego in International Marketing and Business and Bachelor’s in law from the University of Mannheim. She is a certified DEI&B facilitator and completed the IRG Humanized Growth leadership program in 2022.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Claudia relocated with her husband from her hometown of Bensheim, Germany, to San Diego in 2001. She lived and worked in our Toronto office in Canada for 2-years where she enjoyed the people, food, and the beautiful Canadian outdoors. Claudia’s passion is to disrupt herself and integrate herself in new cultures. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the world in the hunt of the next adventure. A few minutes before this photo, Claudia had a friendly and scary encounter with a shark at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Nick Green
Vice President, Global Supply Chain Strategy
Nick Green
Vice President, Global Supply Chain Strategy
"A great supply chain is a global network of people, partners and processes working together to make things happen - it's a beautiful thing!"
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As vice president of global supply chain strategy, Nick is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a holistic global supply chain strategy that will enable the company to meet both its commercial and sustainability goals.
Nick has been with the company since 2019, and previously held the role of supply chain director for EMEA. Prior to his roles at WD-40 Company he held various supply chain leadership roles in the steel, automotive, heavy engineering, optical and fast-moving consumer goods industries. Nick is committed to building a highly effective, global supply chain that will support the company’s long-term business objectives.
Nick received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, and his Master of Business Administration from the Open University. In 2012 he was awarded the Diploma Prize from the Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply for achieving the highest mark in the CIPS exams.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Outside of work, Nick is a keen walker and loves undertaking the long-distance trails across the United Kingdom. Amongst those completed, his favorite remains the Offa's Dyke Path which runs for 177 miles along the border between England and Wales from the north to south coast.
Sara Hyzer
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Sara Hyzer
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
“Every day I wake up excited to work at a company that allows me space to learn, to be challenged and inspired from those around me. In turn, I strive to motivate and support others to show up as their best self every day.”
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As Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Sara Hyzer is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial operations, including the management of accounting, treasury, financial planning and reporting, and internal audit.
Sara joined WD-40 Company in August 2021 as vice president, global finance strategy and assumed her role of chief financial officer in November 2022.
Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Sara spent over 20 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with the last six years serving as an audit partner for both publicly traded and privately held companies in various industries, including consumer products and life sciences.
Sara has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Colorado State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California (Inactive) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
The World Series usually comes in October, but in Sara’s house it starts in May and runs into June, that’s the timing of the Women’s College World Series as Sara’s passion before finance and family was softball. Since becoming a mom, her weekends are now filled with trips to the San Diego Zoo and Legoland and most Saturday mornings you can find her and the family at cars and coffee.
Roxanne Johnson
Vice President, Global Organizational Learning
Roxanne Johnson
Vice President, Global Organizational Learning
"All learning is memory, and we’re in the business of creating positive lasting memories. It’s a beautiful thing when your life’s passion and professional purpose align to help people learn and grow while adding to the legacy of an iconic and enduring company."
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As vice president, global organizational learning, Roxanne leads the organization in leveraging learning as a competitive advantage, serving a global team of dedicated learning leaders in the design and delivery of the organization’s learning and development initiatives.
Roxanne joined WD-40 Company in 2005 and held various roles within the Americas and Corporate human resources functions prior to her current appointment to lead organizational learning. Prior positions included director of corporate human resources and learning & development, director of leadership development, corporate human resources manager and Americas human resources manager. Roxanne began her journey as an HR Generalist.
Roxanne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from San Diego State University as well as a Master of Science in Organizational Psychology with an emphasis in International Business from Walden University. She is a member of the American Psychological Association.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Being a native Hawaiian who loves the ocean, family and travel, Roxanne manages to strike a balance between seeing the world and enjoying her downtime. She is an enthusiastic and devoted mother to two growing children and most of her free time is spent making memories with them. When she is not working or ‘momming’, Roxanne enjoys her coastal community of friends, beaches and walking trails.
Wendy Kelley
Vice President, Stakeholder and Investor Engagement
Wendy Kelley
Vice President, Stakeholder and Investor Engagement
"I believe that for a company to succeed over the long-term it must do right by all its stakeholders…that's how you create real value for a company’s stockholders."
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As vice president, stakeholder and investor engagement, Wendy Kelley is responsible for leading the strategy and delivery of communication programs which shape the company’s corporate reputation with key stakeholders. She is also responsible for developing and executing the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.
Wendy joined WD-40 Company in 2014 as the company’s director of investor relations and corporate communications. Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Wendy worked as the senior manager of investor relations for Leap Wireless from 2008 to 2014. She began her career in investor relations at Diversa Corporation.
Wendy holds a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Redlands.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
A native of Southern California, Wendy believes that anything below 65 degrees Fahrenheit is very cold and warrants the wearing of boots and a scarf. Wendy had some interesting jobs when she was an undergraduate student including working for a famous magician and working as a “fake patient” for Loma Linda University School of Medicine. When she is not busy working, Wendy can be found spending time with her husband and two young sons.
Phenix Kiamilev
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Phenix Kiamilev
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
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As vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Phenix has global responsibility for the Company’s legal affairs and corporate governance. She also serves as the company’s chief compliance officer.
Phenix joined WD-40 Company in early 2021 as vice president, legal and was appointed to her role of vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary later that year. Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Phenix worked as the vice president and general counsel of Kyriba Corp. from 2014 to 2021 and as senior corporate counsel of Active Network, LLC from 2012 to 2014. Prior to her time as in-house counsel, Phenix practiced law at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.
Phenix received her Juris Doctor degree from the Boston College Law School and her Bachelor of Political Science degree from the University of Southern California.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
A self-proclaimed introvert, in her spare time you’ll often find Phenix curled up with a good book. But don’t let her fool you. This overachiever doesn’t slowdown very often. She breezed through grammar school, college and law school to become one of the youngest people to ever pass the California Bar Exam. When she is not working, Phenix enjoys spending time with her family and raising her children in a multicultural (Chinese, Russian and Indonesian) household.
Preston Ley
Managing Director, Global MD and Emerging Markets and Channel Strategy
Preston Ley
Managing Director, Global MD and Emerging Markets and Channel Strategy
"My purpose is to enable and liberate the greatness of others in order to build a brighter future for our team members around the globe. Harnessing the significant talent of our employees is personally energizing and exciting for me, and an infinite game."
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As managing director, global MD and emerging markets and channel strategy, Preston is responsible for driving accelerated growth in the global MD business, innovating business models across global MDs, and putting together and executing emerging markets strategy. Preston also leads the global eCommerce business.
Preston has been with the company since 1998 and most recently held the role of commercial director, Northern Europe. Prior to that role, he held various management positions with the company, including regional director for the United Kingdom and Benelux and country manager for the United Kingdom. Preston is committed to building highly effective, diverse teams and has a strong track record of developing and enabling individuals to achieve success.
Preston received his Master of Arts in Leadership from Henley Business School and his Bachelor of Arts in Business and Finance and studied General Management at Cranfield School of Management.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Preston loves to travel and spends a good deal of time traveling with his wife and two young sons throughout Europe, Asia and North America where they have created many positive lasting family memories together. Preston is an avid sports fan and in his spare time can often be found cheering for his sons’ sports teams or on the golf course perfecting his swing.
Meghan Lieb, Ph.D.
Vice President, Global Research and Development
Meghan Lieb, Ph.D.
Vice President, Global Research and Development
"Our R&D team is made up of individuals who are much more than just great scientists. They are fantastic teammates, communicators, collaborators, and innovators. They make positive lasting memories a reality through their everyday work."
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As vice president, global research and development, Meghan Lieb provides strategic and scientific leadership over the company’s global research and development efforts, oversees global regulatory compliance, and provides technical support for all corporate strategies.
Meghan joined WD-40 Company in 2004 and was appointed as to her role of vice president, global research and development in 2021. Meghan has held various positions with the organization including, global director of research and development, director research and development, senior manager research and development, and senior scientist. Meghan began her journey with our team as R&D project coordinator.
Meghan currently serves on the board of directors for the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA.)
Meghan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Drew University as well as a Master of Science and Ph.D in Chemistry from Princeton University.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
A New Jersey native, Meghan is passionate about remaining active and often participates in sports with her husband and three children. In her free time, she can be found coaching the Official Waterski Show Team of New Jersey as well as youth soccer, cheering on her kids’ lacrosse and dance teams, or spotted outdoors on the weekends hitting the slopes or the lake, engaged in the activities of the season.
Jeff Lindeman
Chief People, Culture and Capability Officer
Jeff Lindeman
Chief People, Culture and Capability Officer
“When we get to do important things, alongside people we respect, and we are allowed to make a difference, it does not really feel like work.”
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As chief people, culture and capability officer, Jeff is responsible for global oversight of the human resource function, and the coordination of strategy for global supply chain and quality functions.
Jeff has been with WD-40 Company since 2016 and has held various management positions including, director of human resources, information technology, supply chain and finance within the Company’s EIMEA segment. Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Jeff worked as the senior director of talent and engagement for San Diego International Airport from 2006 to 2016 and as a director of human resources at Pier 1 from 2000 to 2006.
Jeff received his Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego and his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Walden University. He maintains a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential and serves on the SHRM Certification Commission, which oversees credentialing of human resources professionals around the world.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
Jeff loves to travel. Whether in Shanghai, Santiago, San Diego, Selçuk or Stuttgart, he has only ever met one kind of people: the humankind. His travels have helped him to understand that wherever one is in the world, we all want a better life for our kids than we, ourselves, have led. A lifelong learner, Jeff has completed post-graduate studies in leadership and regularly seeks opportunities to expand his knowledge.
Bill Noble
Group Managing Director
Bill Noble
Group Managing Director
“Our company is collaborative. We encourage each other, we hold each other accountable for being better, and we have a lot of fun.”
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As the group managing director, Bill Noble is responsible for overseeing all operations throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and global MD and emerging markets.
Bill joined WD-40 Company in 1993 and has held various management positions, including international marketing manager and director of operations. In these roles, Bill was responsible for overseeing the opening of the company’s Malaysian office and managing the Company’s Asian regional office in Kuala Lumpur. In 1996, Bill moved to the United Kingdom to assume the role of managing director.
Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Bill was with Dow Corning for nearly ten years in various sales and marketing management roles throughout Asia.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and mathematics. His postgraduate studies include marketing at Monash University and management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
A man of the world, Bill knows when to order roti canai and when to order nasi goreng. He also knows the difference between a burgundy and a bordeaux, and enjoys them both with good friends. In fact, Bill believes you learn more about people between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., rather than 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among his many international skills, Bill has learned how to smile in many languages.
Patricia Olsem
Division President, Americas
Patricia Olsem
Division President, Americas
“A good leader should be collaborative and mentor positively. I consider it my number one responsibility at WD-40 Company to ensure that we are shaping our next generation of leaders to understand this.”
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As the division president of WD-40 Company’s Americas segment, Patricia Olsem is responsible for overseeing all operations throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.
Patricia has been with WD-40 Company since 2005 and has held various management positions including, senior vice president and general manager of United States, senior vice president marketing and innovation of the Americas, and vice president Americas innovation development group.
Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Patricia worked in brand management at ConAgra Foods from2000 to 2005, International Home Foods from 1997 to 2000 and Diageo from 1995 to 1998. She currently serves on the board of advisors for the Cremo Company.
Patricia received her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from King’s College and her Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.
Things that don’t typically show up on a resume.
“Where there is a will, there is a way,” a motto Patricia’s Mom taught her and one she firmly believes in. Patricia is the youngest of six children with a large extended family and as a result, had many mentors in her life. She began her marketing career on Madison Avenue in NYC where her specialty was exotic travel. When she is not working, she can be found spending time with her husband and son, at sporting events (Go Yankees!) and taking time to lounge on various California beaches.