CRB appoints Ryan Schroeder as Chief Executive Officer
CRB, a leading global provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions to the biopharmaceutical and food and beverage industries, announced today that President Ryan Schroeder has been appointed Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors. Schroeder takes over for CEO and CRB co-founder Jeff Biskup, who will remain on the board and serve as Executive Chairman.
In addition, the company announced the formation of CRB Operations, a group led by new Chief Operating Officer Sam Kitchell that will combine the company's Regional Operations and Technical Operations teams into a single structure.
Schroeder joined CRB in 1987 as an architectural engineer and worked his way up through the company's operations before becoming the Midwest region's leader in 2010. He was appointed President in 2017 and has presided over the company's unprecedented growth, including its first $1 billion-plus revenue years in 2021 and 2022.
During his tenure, CRB has established itself as a forerunner and preeminent provider of manufacturing facilities for life-saving medicinal therapies and vaccines, as well as many of the popular brand-name food, beverage, and pet food products. Numerous award-winning large-scale food and beverage projects, as well as many of the research and commercial production facilities that developed and deployed COVID-19 vaccines globally, are included in the company's project portfolio.
Schroeder has overseen CRB's impressive physical expansion while increasing the company's bottom line. CRB now has 21 offices in North America and Europe, with additional openings planned in the coming years, and its employee count is approaching 1,800, a roughly three-fold increase under Schroeder's leadership.
“There is no one better positioned to further raise CRB’s leadership position in the marketplace while simultaneously nurturing and advancing our coveted culture. From day one we’ve put remarkable client and employee experiences at the center of everything we do, and no one understands that balance more than Ryan,” said Jeff Biskup, one of the company’s original three founders who mentored Schroeder during his rise through the company ranks.
“This promotion is well-earned by Ryan, and it’s terrific news for our clients and employees as our company gets stronger and continues to expand our leadership in the industries we serve.”
“Following in Jeff’s footsteps as CEO carries extra meaning for me. He’s been an incredible mentor from the day I arrived at CRB, and his devotion to successful client outcomes is unmatched. I will continue to lean on his leadership, experience and instincts as we guide CRB well into the future,” said Schroeder.
“Combining CRB’s regional and technical teams into a single reporting structure under Kitchell, who previously led the company’s Emerging Business Operations group, advances the company’s integration efforts and how CRB serves clients. His expertise and experience as both a CRB leader and former client uniquely position Kitchell to deliver on the company’s promise to clients: successful, innovative project delivery that consistently meets their business objectives,” said Schroeder.
“Creating an integrated CRB Operations group continues our journey toward becoming a truly united, global organization driven by technical excellence, continuous learning and innovation, with an exciting work environment that keeps employee experience at the heart of everything we do,” said Schroeder .
Prior to his promotion, Kitchell led CRB's Emerging Business Operations team, which collaborated with the company's growth incubator, the Growth Catalyst Program, to identify and launch new initiatives. Kitchell's previous responsibilities will be assumed by Chief Strategy Officer Bart Schubert, who created and managed the GCP from its inception in 2019.
Kitchell has worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries for over 25 years.
Prior to joining CRB, he was Group Vice President of Engineering for Shire (now Takeda), where he was in charge of the company's global engineering team of over 1,600 people, overseeing engineering and validation operations at multiple manufacturing sites across seven countries and leading the corporate capital program. Kitchell previously worked as an engineering Senior Director and Vice President at global biotech companies Baxalta and Baxter Healthcare.
“When I arrived at CRB in 2021, I was thrilled by the opportunity to design an EBO group that would develop our most promising business initiatives and prepare them for the marketplace,” Kitchell said. “Over more than two decades, as a client and now an employee, I’ve seen CRB’s entrepreneurial spirit and technical excellence unleashed on some of the world’s most urgent challenges. I’m humbled and honored to take this next step and continue working alongside Ryan and our talented corps of professionals in their critical work.”
In addition, the company announced the formation of CRB Operations, a group led by new Chief Operating Officer Sam Kitchell that will combine the company's Regional Operations and Technical Operations teams into a single structure.
Schroeder joined CRB in 1987 as an architectural engineer and worked his way up through the company's operations before becoming the Midwest region's leader in 2010. He was appointed President in 2017 and has presided over the company's unprecedented growth, including its first $1 billion-plus revenue years in 2021 and 2022.
During his tenure, CRB has established itself as a forerunner and preeminent provider of manufacturing facilities for life-saving medicinal therapies and vaccines, as well as many of the popular brand-name food, beverage, and pet food products. Numerous award-winning large-scale food and beverage projects, as well as many of the research and commercial production facilities that developed and deployed COVID-19 vaccines globally, are included in the company's project portfolio.
Schroeder has overseen CRB's impressive physical expansion while increasing the company's bottom line. CRB now has 21 offices in North America and Europe, with additional openings planned in the coming years, and its employee count is approaching 1,800, a roughly three-fold increase under Schroeder's leadership.
“There is no one better positioned to further raise CRB’s leadership position in the marketplace while simultaneously nurturing and advancing our coveted culture. From day one we’ve put remarkable client and employee experiences at the center of everything we do, and no one understands that balance more than Ryan,” said Jeff Biskup, one of the company’s original three founders who mentored Schroeder during his rise through the company ranks.
“This promotion is well-earned by Ryan, and it’s terrific news for our clients and employees as our company gets stronger and continues to expand our leadership in the industries we serve.”
“Following in Jeff’s footsteps as CEO carries extra meaning for me. He’s been an incredible mentor from the day I arrived at CRB, and his devotion to successful client outcomes is unmatched. I will continue to lean on his leadership, experience and instincts as we guide CRB well into the future,” said Schroeder.
“Combining CRB’s regional and technical teams into a single reporting structure under Kitchell, who previously led the company’s Emerging Business Operations group, advances the company’s integration efforts and how CRB serves clients. His expertise and experience as both a CRB leader and former client uniquely position Kitchell to deliver on the company’s promise to clients: successful, innovative project delivery that consistently meets their business objectives,” said Schroeder.
“Creating an integrated CRB Operations group continues our journey toward becoming a truly united, global organization driven by technical excellence, continuous learning and innovation, with an exciting work environment that keeps employee experience at the heart of everything we do,” said Schroeder .
Prior to his promotion, Kitchell led CRB's Emerging Business Operations team, which collaborated with the company's growth incubator, the Growth Catalyst Program, to identify and launch new initiatives. Kitchell's previous responsibilities will be assumed by Chief Strategy Officer Bart Schubert, who created and managed the GCP from its inception in 2019.
Kitchell has worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries for over 25 years.
Prior to joining CRB, he was Group Vice President of Engineering for Shire (now Takeda), where he was in charge of the company's global engineering team of over 1,600 people, overseeing engineering and validation operations at multiple manufacturing sites across seven countries and leading the corporate capital program. Kitchell previously worked as an engineering Senior Director and Vice President at global biotech companies Baxalta and Baxter Healthcare.
“When I arrived at CRB in 2021, I was thrilled by the opportunity to design an EBO group that would develop our most promising business initiatives and prepare them for the marketplace,” Kitchell said. “Over more than two decades, as a client and now an employee, I’ve seen CRB’s entrepreneurial spirit and technical excellence unleashed on some of the world’s most urgent challenges. I’m humbled and honored to take this next step and continue working alongside Ryan and our talented corps of professionals in their critical work.”
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