Albemarle names Ander Krupa as new general counsel

CHARLOTTE - Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB), a global specialty chemicals company with a market capitalization of $8.1 billion that currently appears undervalued according to InvestingPro analysis, announced Wednesday the promotion of Ander Krupa to executive vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer.

Krupa, who joined Albemarle in May 2017 as vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary, will oversee the company’s legal, ethics, risk, and compliance functions. He has held various leadership roles at the company supporting global business units, commercial activities, and mergers and acquisitions. The appointment comes at a crucial time as Albemarle navigates market challenges, with InvestingPro data showing the company maintaining strong liquidity with a current ratio of 2.11, though facing profitability headwinds.

"Ander’s demonstrated leadership, broad legal expertise, and deep institutional knowledge positions him well to assume strategic oversight," said Kent Masters, Albemarle’s Chairman and CEO, in a press release statement.

Prior to joining Albemarle, Krupa served as assistant general counsel for governance and securities at BWX Technologies, Inc. and The Babcock & Wilcox Company. He also worked as an attorney with the international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP in its corporate and securities practice group.

Krupa holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law. He will be based at the company’s Charlotte headquarters and report directly to Masters as part of the executive leadership team.

The appointment follows the passing of Albemarle’s former general counsel, Stacy Grant, in April, after which Krupa had been serving in an interim capacity.

Albemarle Corporation produces lithium and bromine for mobility, energy, connectivity and health applications. The company has maintained dividend payments for 32 consecutive years, demonstrating long-term financial stability despite current market volatility. For deeper insights into Albemarle’s financial health and growth prospects, investors can access comprehensive analysis through InvestingPro, which offers exclusive access to over 30 additional key metrics and expert recommendations.

In other recent news, Albemarle Corporation has been the subject of several analyst actions and company announcements. KeyBanc Capital Markets downgraded Albemarle from Overweight to Sector Weight, noting the company’s recent market outperformance. Similarly, Baird downgraded the stock to Underperform, citing concerns over lithium pricing potentially being driven by speculators rather than fundamental demand. Despite these downgrades, BofA Securities maintained a Buy rating on Albemarle, raising its price target to $93 due to the company’s significant cost-cutting achievements. These efforts have resulted in approximately 90% of targeted savings being realized, indicating strong operational efficiency.

In addition to analyst actions, Albemarle declared a quarterly dividend of $0.405 per share, payable on October 1, 2025, with an annualized rate of $1.62 per share. The company has also seen a substantial rally in its stock, with a nearly 50% increase over the past three months. This surge is attributed in part to a short squeeze and positive developments in the Chinese lithium market. These recent developments provide a comprehensive view of Albemarle’s current position in the market.

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