Vanguard Renewables names new CEO

Vanguard Renewables, a Weston, Massachusetts-based environmental services company that converts organics to renewable natural gas, has announced the appointment of Michael O’Laughlin as chief executive officer.

O’Laughlin brings 20 years of proven leadership in the clean energy, aerospace, defense, medical, automotive and industrial industries to the Vanguard Renewables team. He most recently served as Kymera International’s president of engineered materials, where he led a global team across numerous facilities focused on enabling innovation with advanced material and cutting-edge technological solutions.

During O’Laughlin’s tenure, Kymera International experienced rapid growth while being recognized as an industry leader in environmental, social and governance standards. Prior to Kymera, O’Laughlin held senior leadership roles at Lydall, Raytheon and General Electric.

RELATED: Vanguard Renewables adds 2 to executive staff

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the Vanguard Renewables team,” says Doug Vaccari, managing director of Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, and lead director of Vanguard Renewables’ Board. “His extensive experience leading global organizations and driving growth, coupled with his passion for sustainability, elegantly aligns with Vanguard’s growth strategy and our mission to create a more sustainable future.”

Under O’Laughlin’s leadership, the company says it plans to expand its Farm Powered anaerobic digester platform nationally.

O’Laughlin received an MBA from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering and Management from Clarkson University.

“I am excited to join Vanguard Renewables to help catalyze the nationwide expansion of its environmental services platform and drive the organics to Farm Powered renewable natural gas production platform,” O’Laughlin says. “The company not only offers its partners a circular solution for materials recycling and renewable energy procurement, but we are also using innovative technology to advance anaerobic digestion outputs and to explore the production of other advanced renewable fuel sources to support market needs. I am proud to be a part of this remarkable journey.”

Vanguard Renewables builds, owns and operates on-farm AD facilities in the U.S. Northeast and has three sites under construction in the Midwest and South. The company plans to expand nationwide to more than 100 AD facilities by 2028. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is a part of investment firm BlackRock.