Meet Nye - Brad Richardson
Meet Brad Richardson, Nye’s Vice President of Business Development. In his position, Brad leads the Sales, Marketing and Sales Operations teams at Nye and has grown and developed Nye’s successful and world-respected technical sales organization. Brad has been involved in patented product design, development and market introduction for more than 30 years, approaching 25 of those in business development with Nye Lubricants.
Brad received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1987. He later plied his engineering and management skills in fluid mechanics and the dental industry before joining Nye in 1995 as an Engineering Sales Manager. He received an MBA in Strategic Management from DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in 2001. Prior to assuming his current position, he was named Nye’s Director of Sales in 2007 and Director, Senior Accounts Executive in 2014. Brad resides in the northern suburbs of Illinois where he works out of Nye’s Chicago Regional office.
This year will be your 25th Anniversary at Nye, how have you seen Nye change over the years?
I was the fifth Regional Engineering Manager hired in 1995. Nye employed 65 people at the time, and we had approximately $12 million in revenue. We now have 18 REMs and Industry Managers, 180 Nye Teammates in the company and we have jumped over the $50 million mark in revenue.
Nye was acquired by Fuchs Petrolub SE earlier this year. What has the transition from privately owned company to independently owned subsidiary been like?
We are now owned by Fuchs Lubricants Corporation out of Harvey, IL, which is part of the global Fuchs Group out of Manheim, Germany. We’re beginning to see a whole new, expansive world of opportunities! The collaboration on the Business Development side has been going very smoothly and we see many synergies amongst the teams. Also, I see the same in other functional areas between the two companies. I think we’re going to have some fun with our new colleagues!
In what ways do Nye and Fuchs business goals align?
Nye fills out the niche, specialty aspect of the global Fuchs’ portfolio. We bring the solution-based, consultative sale in support of our customers and help them incorporate added value to their designs and new product development. Nye and Fuchs have many of the same customers and we bring solutions in different areas.
For example, Fuchs’ OEM business is primarily Automotive “first-fill” and “Genuine Brand” (private label) for products such as motor oil, transmission fluid, shock absorber fluid, as well as greases. We complement each other, for common customers and others, by offering what we refer to as “Lube for Life” products. These lubricants are critical design components that enable the customer’s product functionality and never need to be replaced for the life of that product.
How will Nye and Fuchs work together towards these goals in the future?
The work being done now in just four months since the Fuchs Group acquired Nye has been moving rapidly! The work being done in Product Management and R&D has brought together Nye and Fuchs people from all over the world in many disciplines. Together, we have begun mapping out plans that will be incorporated into the Fuchs 2025 Strategy where colleagues from every Fuchs global entity is involved. It’s been, and will continue to be, quite an endeavor!
What is your favorite part about working at Nye?
I have to say, my time here has been very rewarding and a real pleasure to be able to contribute to our top line growth, working on a wonderful range of applications and exercising my engineering “chops” along the way.
Also, the relationships I’ve enjoyed with my colleagues over the years has been a true, rewarding experience. I really look forward to continuing to grow in these and getting to know better our new Fuchs colleagues and developing those relationships!
