Neal Zuzik has joined American Refining Group Inc. (ARG) as senior vice president of sales, marketing and business development. Neal is taking the position previously held by Tim Brown who was promoted to ARG's Chief Executive Officer in October 2015.

Mr. Zuzik comes to ARG from Valvoline where he most recently served as its vice president of global supply chain, leading its global purchasing, indirect procurement, logistics and customer service teams. He joined Ashland in early 2001 as a transportation analyst with Valvoline. Since then he has held various positions of increasing responsibility from OEM account manager, sales manager, area manager, project manager, business development manager, global purchasing manager and director of global procurement.

CEO Brown said, “Neal brings significant market knowledge and strategic perspective that will help ARG to both strengthen and grow its position in the markets we serve today and in the future.

“Along with considerable experience, Neal will also be able to leverage his industry relationships to help in the execution of our company’s strategic sales plan,” Mr. Brown explained. “He has demonstrated sales success and a skill set that will round out our overall organizational needs.”

In this role, some of Mr. Zuzik’s key responsibilities will include considering past and present sales activities along with additional revenue-generating opportunities in formulating strategic sales and marketing plans; executing strategy by ensuring proper account management, effective pricing and inventory-maximization techniques, opening and closing new deals and building strategic partnerships; and using research to support ARG’s case for being the business partner of choice. He will report to Mr. Brown and will be based in ARG’s Pittsburgh office.

A native of Greensburg, PA, Mr. Zuzik received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology/pre-medicine from St. Vincent College in Latrobe and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree in supply chain management and finance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He served on the board of directors of three Valvoline international joint ventures and is a member of the St. Vincent College McKenna School of Business Advisory Council.