Quaker Houghton named Mark A. Douglas chairman of the board, effective immediately, replacing Michael F. Barry, who retired as chairman and director after 17 years in the role and 28 years with the company.
The board also reduced its size from 11 directors to 10, effective May 13, 2026, and eliminated the lead independent director position. Jeffry D. Frisby will remain on the board as chair of the Sustainability Committee and a member of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee.
Barry had served on the board since 2008. The company said it will name the Michael F. Barry Employee Learning and Conference Center at its new headquarters and sponsor the Michael F. Barry Quaker Houghton Manufacturing Leadership Fellowship at Drexel University.
Douglas has been on the board since 2013 and chairs the Governance Committee. Barry said the company’s leadership under CEO Joseph A. Berquist is positioning it for future growth, while Douglas said the company completed approximately 30 strategic acquisitions during Barry’s tenure. The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares -3.72% to a price of $137.29. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.
