Matt O’Brien

Matt O’Brien is currently SVP & General Manager for Huber Specialty Minerals (HSM), which is a strategic business unit of Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), where Matt also serves on the executive team. Since 2015, he and his team have transformed Huber’s industrial Calcium Carbonate business into a multi-mineral platform, adding nutritional Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Bi-Carbonate (baking soda) and, most recently, Attapulgite and Air Float Kaolin segments to the portfolio. They’ve accelerated the growth of the core business, successfully integrated five acquisitions, turned around an underperforming segment, and ultimately tripled the revenue and quintupled HSM’s earnings. 

Prior to joining HEM, Matt spent 10 years in Huber Engineered Woods (HEW). AS CFO and VP, Strategy, he helped steer the organization through the largest housing downturn in US history and on-board Huber’s first-ever Operating Board. As Chief Commercial Officer, he led Sales, Marketing & Supply Chain, where he and his team helped accelerate the growth of ZIP System®, expanded HEW’s sales team and marketing capabilities, and successfully negotiated multiple long-term contracts with Fortune 500 suppliers. Matt started his career at J.M. Huber Corporation (Huber) in 2002 as VP of Corporate Strategy.   

Matt previously served on the Board of Directors for Magnifin, a joint venture between Huber and RHI Magnesita, ultimately helping Huber acquire the company as part of the HEM portfolio. 

Before joining Huber, Matt worked at Bain & Company in Boston and London. He began his career serving as a Combat Engineer Officer in rapid deployment forces in the US Army, and is a graduate of Airborne, Ranger, Air Assault and Sapper Leader courses. 

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in Materials Engineering from Rutgers University and an MBA, with distinction, from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.