Industrial valve manufacturer Velan Inc. has announced a series of senior executive appointments as part of a broader organisational restructuring aimed at supporting its next phase of global growth. The leadership changes introduce new corporate and regional business roles designed to simplify decision-making, strengthen accountability and align operations more closely with customer and market needs following the company’s ownership transition earlier this year.

Velan Inc. has reshaped its executive leadership team as the company implements a streamlined organisational model intended to improve operational execution and support long-term international expansion.

The restructuring establishes a clearer separation between global corporate functions and regional business units, with new appointments spanning commercial operations, product strategy, legal affairs, quality management and regional leadership across the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The move follows the previously announced appointment of Rishi Sharma as President and Chief Executive Officer and Imran Gibbons as Chief Financial Officer after funds managed by Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc. completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in the company.

According to Velan, the new structure is designed to simplify governance, accelerate decision-making and bring leadership closer to customers in key regional markets.

Leadership Appointments Expand Global Management Team

As part of the organisational changes, Laurent Pefferkorn has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer, while Daniel Velan assumes the role of Chief Product Officer, reflecting a greater emphasis on commercial execution and product strategy.

The company has also appointed Victor Apostolescu as Vice President, Global Quality, reinforcing oversight of quality standards across its international manufacturing and engineering operations.

In a broader expansion of corporate leadership, Max Rogan joins Velan as Chief Legal, Human Resources and Administrative Officer. Rogan previously held senior legal leadership roles at Polycor and Uni-Select, bringing experience in corporate governance, legal affairs and organisational transformation.

Regional operations will be led by Bryant Holt, appointed Executive Vice-President and Managing Director, Americas, and William Toqueboeuf, who joins the executive team as Executive Vice-President and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA).

Together, the appointments create a leadership structure combining centralised corporate functions with greater regional accountability.

Simplified Operating Models Become a Strategic Priority

Velan’s restructuring reflects a broader trend among industrial manufacturers seeking flatter organisational structures to improve responsiveness in increasingly competitive global markets.

Manufacturers are under growing pressure to manage supply chain complexity, evolving customer requirements and digital transformation initiatives while maintaining operational efficiency. Many companies are responding by reducing organisational layers, empowering regional leadership and strengthening collaboration between commercial, product and operational teams.

By establishing dedicated regional business units alongside central corporate functions, Velan aims to accelerate decision-making while maintaining consistency in product quality, governance and strategic direction.

The approach mirrors organisational models adopted across global industrial sectors, where companies seek to balance local market responsiveness with enterprise-wide operational standards.

HR Leadership Gains Strategic Importance

One notable aspect of the restructuring is the expansion of the human resources function into a broader executive leadership role.

By combining legal, HR and administrative responsibilities under a single executive, Velan is aligning workforce strategy more closely with corporate governance and business transformation. HR leaders are increasingly expected to play central roles in organisational redesign, leadership development, succession planning and post-acquisition integration.

This reflects wider trends across enterprise organisations where HR has evolved beyond traditional personnel management into a strategic function supporting organisational performance and business growth.

Technology continues to support this evolution through Human Capital Management platforms from providers including Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle, Microsoft, and UKG, which enable workforce planning, leadership development and organisational analytics across global operations.

Positioning for the Next Phase of Growth

The executive changes come at an important stage in Velan’s evolution following its ownership transition.

Private equity-backed industrial companies frequently undertake organisational redesign to improve execution, clarify accountability and establish scalable leadership structures capable of supporting future growth initiatives.

According to Gartner, organisational agility and leadership effectiveness remain critical priorities for manufacturing executives navigating economic uncertainty and evolving global supply chains. Meanwhile, McKinsey & Company continues to highlight streamlined operating models as a key factor enabling faster decision-making and stronger customer responsiveness.

For Velan, the leadership appointments signal a strategic shift toward a more integrated global operating model that combines stronger corporate oversight with regional market execution.

As manufacturers continue investing in operational excellence, digital transformation and customer-centric strategies, executive structures that enable faster decisions and closer customer engagement are becoming increasingly important competitive differentiators.

Market Landscape

Industrial manufacturers are increasingly redesigning executive structures to improve agility, regional responsiveness and operational efficiency. Leadership models that integrate commercial strategy, product management, HR and regional accountability are becoming more common as organisations navigate digital transformation, supply chain disruption and evolving customer expectations. Gartner identifies organisational agility as a strategic priority, while McKinsey & Company highlights streamlined operating models as essential for sustainable growth and improved execution.

Top Insights

• Velan has introduced a streamlined executive structure combining global corporate leadership with regional business units to strengthen operational execution and customer responsiveness.
• New appointments span commercial leadership, product strategy, legal affairs, HR, quality management and regional operations across the Americas and EMEA.
• The organisational redesign follows the company’s ownership transition and supports its next phase of strategic growth and operational transformation.
• Combining HR, legal and administration under one executive reflects the growing strategic role of workforce leadership in enterprise transformation.
• The restructuring aligns with wider manufacturing trends favouring flatter organisations, regional accountability and faster decision-making.

Join thousands of HR leaders who rely on HRTechEdge for the latest in workforce technology, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic insights