In the urgent global effort to combat climate change, the focus on eliminating potent super pollutants has intensified, spotlighting the critical work of companies dedicated to this specialized and high-impact mission. Tradewater, a prominent global player in this field, has recently announced a comprehensive restructuring of its leadership and ownership, a move designed to significantly accelerate its growth and amplify its environmental impact. This strategic overhaul, involving a new chief executive and a majority acquisition, signals a pivotal new phase for the organization as it prepares to scale its operations to meet the escalating demands of a world grappling with greenhouse gas emissions. The changes are positioned not just as an internal shift but as a strategic maneuver to inject new capital, expertise, and momentum into the fight against some of the most damaging substances threatening the climate.
A New Era of Leadership
A significant leadership transition is set to redefine the company’s strategic direction, with Kirsten Dueck appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer, a change that took effect on January 5, 2026. Dueck brings a wealth of experience from the intersection of finance and environmental action, having previously served as the CEO at the global social-impact investment firm NESsT. Her career is distinguished by a deep commitment to climate solutions and social enterprise, further evidenced by her impactful tenure at the PATH Foundation, where she was instrumental in directing major environmental and social impact portfolios and pioneered its impact-investing program. This appointment marks a deliberate move to install a leader with a proven track record in scaling mission-driven organizations. Meanwhile, co-founders Tim Brown and Gabe Plotkin will transition into vital strategic advisor roles, ensuring their foundational vision and industry expertise continue to guide the company’s long-term trajectory while empowering new leadership to drive day-to-day operations and future growth initiatives.
Strategic Acquisition to Fuel Global Expansion
Concurrent with the leadership changes, Tradewater’s capacity for growth has been fundamentally transformed through its acquisition by J.F. Lehman & Company (JFLCO), an alternative asset manager that now holds a majority stake in the company. This acquisition serves as a cornerstone investment for JFLCO’s newly established environmental services platform, a strategic initiative focused squarely on the lifecycle management of industrial gases and the mitigation of methane emissions. This new platform is not only backing Tradewater but has also acquired Reclamation Technologies USA, a refrigerant reclamation company, signaling a comprehensive strategy to build an integrated ecosystem of services targeting super pollutants. The infusion of capital and strategic support from JFLCO is poised to provide Tradewater with the resources necessary to dramatically scale its operations, enhance its technological capabilities, and expand its global reach in collecting and destroying some of the most potent greenhouse gases ever created.
