A high-performance culture thrives at Cleanova

Chris Cummins has 25+ years of experience in the global manufacturing industry and 10 years in industrial filtration. He previously served as COO for Abaco Systems and The Colson Group, Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing Officer for Symmetry Medical, and General Manager of two operating divisions for Danaher Corporation under Larry Culp. He joined the Micronics Engineered Filtration Group in 2020, leading four (4) successful platform acquisitions and integrations for Vance Street Capital, a private equity firm out of Los Angeles, California. In 2025, he became President and CEO of Cleanova, post Micronics’ acquisition by PX3 Partners, a private equity firm based out of London, England. Over his career in Private Equity-led business platforms, Chris has executed four (4) successful exits of his companies that created $2.4 Billion of total enterprise value for his investors.

His areas of expertise include Lean principles & Six Sigma deployment, driving global manufacturing strategies, supply chain optimization, and continuous performance improvement. Throughout his career, Chris has successfully worked with diverse teams in North America, South America, EMEA, and Asia. His experience includes Metals & Mining/Mineral Processing, Industrial, Medical Device, Energy infrastructure, and Aerospace industries.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, an Executive Management Certificate from Harvard Business School, and an MBA focused on Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University.

Doug Grant joined the Cleanova team as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in May 2025, succeeding Glenn Hollis, former CFO of the Micronics Engineered Filtration Group, who retired at the end of June 2025.

Doug brings over 25 years of financial leadership and strategic business expertise to Cleanova. His early career with leading strategic consulting firm EY-Parthenon (formerly The Parthenon Group) was instrumental in developing his strategic thinking and analytical capabilities, while giving him exposure to a wide range of industries and value-creation opportunities.

Over the next two decades, Doug honed his financial acumen with J. M. Huber Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar family-owned holding company with diverse business units, where he was CFO of three separate billion-dollar Huber companies. Most recently, Doug and his team at CP Kelco, a division of Huber, successfully led the sale of the business to Tate & Lyle in late 2024.

Doug earned his Bachelor of Science in Business, Finance, and International Management from Boston University, and later received his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, with concentrations in Strategic Management and Finance.

Jason Wettstaedt joined the Micronics Engineered Filtration Group in 2016 and was promoted in August 2020 to Senior Vice President of Sales, USA & Canada, for both wet and dry filtration products and services. He was promoted to Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, in February 2022. With 24 years in the filtration market, Jason’s focus has been on driving sales growth by partnering with customers and leveraging his deep materials, application, and process knowledge to deliver customized engineered filtration solutions, in both the liquid-solid separation and industrial air filtration industries. As of 2025, his sales responsibilities span both North America and Latin America, and he enjoys a Global Marketing leadership role for Cleanova worldwide.

Beyond technical solutions, Jason is a collaborative sales leader who emphasizes coaching and mentoring his sales team to further develop their talents. He believes in and has implemented the integration of CRM with ERP systems and promotes the use of analytical tools for gaining insights for delivering Best-In-Class customer service.

Before joining Micronics, Jason most recently worked for FLSmidth & Co. A/S as Sales Manager, focusing on the Aggregates, Steel, and Power Generation industries. Responsibilities over his 10 years with FLSmidth included strategic sales planning, serving as key account commercial and technical resource, and managing relationships with strategic business partners to increase sales, broadening and diversifying the customer base. Jason began his career with C.P. Environmental in field service and sales, performing technical inspections and audits for key customers in the Steel and Aggregates industries to ensure environmental compliance of customers’ baghouse systems.

In his free time, having relocated to beautiful Chattanooga, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, discovering their new hometown, and enjoying the outdoor activities the “Scenic City” has to offer.

Jeremy Lewis joined the Micronics Engineered Filtration team as Operations Manager in July 2017. Moving into the Director of Operations role in 2020, Jeremy’s focus has been on safety and delivering high-quality filter media products – when customers need them – to ensure total customer satisfaction. Jeremy was promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing & Engineering in May, 2021.

Jeremy oversees all of Cleanova’s manufacturing facilities in the Americas.

A Chattanooga native, Jeremy has worked in the filtration industry since 1997, starting as a lab tech at Filter Specialists, Inc. He then spent 6 years working under Danaher in Industrial and Life Sciences Filtration. Having a passion for innovation, Jeremy has designed and built custom robotics for mass manufacturing products in the automotive industry, as well as designing new innovations and process improvements for the Micronics Engineered Filtration Group’s Chattanooga facility.

Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

In his free time, he enjoys restoring antique vehicles, mountain biking, and spending time with his wife and children.

Brenda Westphal is Vice President, Talent/Human Resources for Cleanova. She was promoted to VP in February 2022, having joined Micronics as its Director of Human Resources in November 2018. Brenda is a results-oriented HR executive with over 15 years of experience in strategic human resources and organizational development within manufacturing environments.

Before joining Micronics, Brenda served as the Director of Human Resources for GVS North America, Inc., part of the GVS Group, specializing in filter solutions and applications in the Healthcare & Life Sciences, Energy & Mobility, and Health & Safety sectors. She served as a change agent during four reorganizations, anticipating and addressing human resource needs while facilitating the alignment of people, processes, structure, and culture to support business initiatives. Brenda possesses a strategic and hands-on approach, fostering effective methods of goal-setting, communication, and empowerment through responsibility and accountability, building employee ownership of the organization.

Brenda earned an Associate of Science Degree in Applied Business Management from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Studies with a dual concentration in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from New Hampshire College, Manchester, NH.

Brenda enjoys exploring the Scenic City, riding her motorcycle, and spending time with her husband, Chris, and their dogs, Monkey and Lil Bit.

Gerald Woodward is Director of Eurasia Sales at Cleanova. He leads regional sales teams to achieve the company’s growth strategy and annual order targets. With over twenty years of experience in global filtration markets, he brings strategic vision and a strong customer focus to drive sustainable growth in key regions.

Before joining Cleanova in 2023, Gerald held senior commercial leadership roles at Parker Hannifin, Clarcor Industrial Filtration, and GE Energy Services. He managed global teams and developed market strategies for the Oil & Gas, Marine, and Power Generation sectors. His experience across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Brazil provides a broad perspective on international business development.

Gerald holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Portsmouth, UK.

Based in Guildford, Surrey, he enjoys competitive tennis, supports Harlequins Rugby and Surrey Cricket, and is an avid motorsport enthusiast. Guided by the belief that “No customer cares about the products you sell, only the problems they solve,” Gerald is committed to keeping Cleanova’s customers at the center of every solution. 

Chris Lewis serves as Manufacturing & Engineering Director at Cleanova, where he leads operations across the Eurasia region. With over 30 years of experience and a strong focus on continuous improvement, Chris applies his extensive knowledge and technical expertise to drive efficiency, quality, and collaboration across Cleanova’s production facilities.

Chris joined Cleanova in 2023, following senior leadership roles at Celeros Flow Technology and SPX Flow. His career has spanned a range of manufacturing management positions, including Site Lead, Manufacturing Manager, and Works Manager, where he was responsible for overseeing large-scale operations. Earlier in his career he served as a welding apprentice at Siemens Magnet Technology, before holding key operational leadership roles at Oxford Engineering.

Chris holds a Master of Science in Operations Excellence from Cranfield University and a Professional Diploma in Management Studies from Abingdon & Witney College. Dedicated to personal and professional development, he is known for his positive leadership style and empowering others through ownership and growth. Outside of work, Chris is a keen ornithologist, enjoys watching and participating in a variety of sports, and spending time with his family.

Chris Nixon leads the Product Management team at Cleanova, overseeing technical leadership, business development, and product strategy. With nearly 25 years of experience in the filtration industry, Chris brings deep expertise in product development, global markets, and customer-centric innovation.

Before joining Cleanova in 2020, he held senior roles at Parker Hannifin and Walker Filtration, where he led product development and management across both EMEA and global channels. During his career, he successfully launched Parker’s OIL-X range, setting a new benchmark for low differential pressure performance, and spearheaded multiple product introductions and due diligence initiatives through Cleanova’s formation and subsequent acquisitions.

Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and earned his Product Management certification from the Chartered Institute of Management.

Outside of work, he enjoys football, coaching his children’s team, and playing golf. His leadership philosophy is inspired by Theodore Levitt’s belief that “Creativity is thinking up new things; innovation is doing new things.”

Colm Joy is Director of Technology at Cleanova, where he leads global engineering and technology development across the company’s filtration portfolio. With over 25 years of experience in engineering and management, Colm brings deep technical expertise and a passion for sustainable innovation to his role, driving advancements that support Cleanova’s customers in the energy transition and beyond. 

An engineer at heart, Colm has held a series of senior technical and leadership positions, including Chief Technical Officer and Global Engineering Director at Cleanova and Celeros Flow Technology. His career spans roles in engineering design, process development, and project management across multiple sectors, including oil & gas, power generation, biotechnology, and medical devices. Earlier in his career, he worked with companies such as SPX Flow Technology, DePuy Synthes (a Johnson & Johnson company), and ICP NewTech, where he developed extensive experience in filtration systems, pressure vessel design, and advanced manufacturing technologies. 

Colm holds a Master of Technology in Computer Integrated Manufacturing and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Limerick. Passionate about sustainability, he is dedicated to developing solutions that strike a balance between technical excellence and environmental responsibility. 

Outside of work, Colm spends time on his family farm and enjoys keeping pace with his two energetic toddlers. 

Luke Varndell is Director of Eurasia Commercial and Supply Chain at Cleanova, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the global filtration industry. A results-driven leader, Luke combines technical expertise with strong commercial acumen to deliver sustainable growth and build long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers.

Before joining Cleanova in 2024, Luke held senior commercial leadership roles at Parker Hannifin, CLARCOR Industrial Air, and GE Power & Water. Throughout his career, he has developed deep expertise in contract negotiation, risk management, and bid strategy – securing high-value projects and leading high-performing commercial teams across multiple regions. His focus on collaboration and customer satisfaction continues to underpin Cleanova’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Luke holds a BSc in Product Design & Innovation from the University of Portsmouth, UK. Passionate about problem-solving and creating win-win solutions for customers and stakeholders, he believes in building businesses that make a positive impact on both people and the planet. Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and playing squash – despite what his knees might say. Underpinned by the philosophy that, “The secret to change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new”.

Jon Meek serves as People Director for Cleanova Eurasia, leading a talented and experienced team across the UK, Ireland, India, and China. He is passionate about creating an exceptional people experience and ensuring Cleanova reflects the strength and diversity of the communities in which it operates. His current priorities include driving integration across People Operations, Talent Management, and People Systems to strengthen collaboration and deliver on Cleanova’s One Team ethos.

Jon joined Cleanova at its formation in 2023, following several years with Celeros FT and SPX Flow Technology. He has extensive experience across global HR and talent management, having successfully led performance management programmes, leadership development initiatives, and major organisational restructures. Earlier in his career, he held HR roles at Becton Dickinson and Jaguar Land Rover, including an international secondment in Shanghai, China.

Jon holds an MA in European Law and Public Policy from the University of Portsmouth, a BA (Hons) in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Birmingham, and is a Chartered Member of the CIPD. Outside of work, he enjoys football, both playing and supporting Aston Villa, as well as table tennis and exploring local history. His leadership philosophy is inspired by the principle “Event + Response = Outcome”, emphasising personal accountability and resilience.