Experienced Leaders Maione, Moreira to Helm CGA Board of Directors

Two industry veterans with a passion for giving back will lead the Compressed Gas Association Board of Directors in 2023. Francesco Maione of Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. will serve as Board Chair, while Nelson Moreira of Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. will serve as Vice Chair.

“Being Chair of CGA is an honor and privilege,” Maione said. “I look forward to using the wealth of knowledge and experience in service to the industry.”

Maione and Moreira both cited several strategic areas of focus for CGA in the coming year: safety, drawing younger people into the industry, and capitalizing on the potential of hydrogen as a growth opportunity.

“Everybody is talking about hydrogen and the critical role it can play globally,” Maione said. “We want to position CGA as the body that drives the standards to ensure there is a safety in handling the gas.”

With such difficult topics on the horizon, Moreira believes CGA will benefit from greater participation from its members, as well as drawing in new participants. “Problems are too complex for one person, one department, one company to handle. The hydrogen economy is a good example. People are well intentioned, and you have all these technologies vying for attention. CGA’s role is to ensure that things are done properly. We have to pace the industry, make sure that we’re not taking shortcuts and putting people at risk.”

Both leaders are excited about mentoring young professionals.

“I always feel a duty of using my experience and coaching and developing younger talent,” Moreira said. “I want to make sure the industry grows, but I want to make sure I pass my knowledge to new talent in our industry. I see it as an extension of my role.”

Moreira sees himself as a “cheerleader” for CGA, particularly since he has learned what he missed by not participating. “For most of my career, I wasn’t involved in CGA and I look back and regret it,” he said. “It could have helped not only in my career, but it also made me less centered in my own company. Giving back to the industry that has taken care of me is important.”

Maione started out in finance and economics, working in London when an opportunity in a utility company arose. “I didn’t know the extent of where gases were in our industry. I was fascinated by the use of gases. In 24 years, working in this industry has given me the opportunity to touch every single region and every business. I’ve grown so fond of the industry and my company.”

Moreira, a chemical engineer by training, has had an equally diverse career over the last 36 years. “There’s always something for me to learn, to take on. I have had 16 different roles in 36 years. I’ve done everything but finance: sales, marketing, operations, engineering, project management. Every time I thought about leaving, I was fortunate that something new came my way.”

The industry will continue to change and grow, and both are committed to ensuring that CGA has a leadership role. “We need to be the voice of the industry, with regards to the government, to the public bodies, to other associations,” Maione said. “During the pandemic, that was done very effectively. We want to ensure that the association continues to play that role.”