Ethanol producer picks new CEO

Source: Amanda Peterka, E&E reporter • Posted: Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Jeff Lautt is the new CEO of ethanol producer Poet LLC, the company announced today.

Lautt takes over from current CEO Jeff Broin, who is stepping down after 25 years at the helm to spend more time with his family and work on other projects, the company said.

“I will continue to be involved in strategic direction for the company as Executive Chairman of the Board, and leave the day-to-day operations to our very capable management team,” Broin said today in a statement.

Lautt, who has been with Poet since 2005, most recently served as president of the company and previously as executive vice president of corporate relations, where he was responsible for all operational business units in the company. Before joining Poet, Lautt spent 14 years in the emergency vehicle industry.

Broin will continue to serve as executive chairman of Poet’s board of directors, the company said. He will also continue to advocate for ethanol as co-chairman of the trade group Growth Energy and work on his new foundation, “Teach a Man to Fish,” which works on agricultural issues in the developing world.

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