Compass Minerals has named Gordon Dunn as the company’s next chief operations officer. In this role, Dunn will have responsibility for managing global operations across the company’s  Salt and Plant Nutrition businesses.

Dunn will focus on maintaining operational excellence throughout the company’s mining, packaging and production operations, including oversight of environmental, health, safety and security. He brings nearly four decades of operations expertise with a focus on safety and building a strong, inclusive culture. Dunn will use this experience to help ensure safe production, as well as to help maximize the value of the company’s advantaged assets.

He most recently served as managing director of Compass Minerals’ U.K. operations, including Winsford mine and DeepStore records management. He joined the company in 2007 as mine manager and has had roles of increasing responsibility. Prior to Compass Minerals, Dunn spent over 25 years in operations within gas and energy companies.

“In addition to Gordon’s extensive experience leading safe and responsible operations, his technical expertise will serve us well as we focus on operational efficiencies and cost reduction initiatives across our operating footprint. His deep familiarity with our salt mining assets will be particularly important,” said Edward C. Dowling Jr., president and CEO. “I’m confident his steady leadership will further bolster the strong performance culture we are building, which we expect will ultimately translate to improved returns for shareholders.”

Dunn holds a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, England, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Hull in Hull, England.

Read the news release here.