Keel Holdings, LLC, a leader in heavy fabrication for the nuclear navy and the broader defense sector, has announced the appointment of Matt Klein as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and John N. Geiger II as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Matt Klein brings over 20 years of financial leadership experience to Keel, with a proven track record in scaling companies within the defense and government markets. He has a strong background in developing and executing complex corporate growth strategies. Previously, Klein served as Executive Vice President and CFO at private-equity-backed LinQuest and held the position of Senior Vice President and CFO at Vectrus, Inc., a publicly traded company. In his role as CFO at Keel, Klein will oversee all financial leadership functions.
John N. Geiger II, with more than 20 years of experience in large-scale precision manufacturing, offers extensive expertise in program management, quality assurance, supply chain management, welding, machining, and integration. Before joining Keel, Geiger was the President and COO of Merrill Technologies Group, which recently merged with Pegasus Steel and Metal Trades to form Keel. As COO, Geiger will focus on driving vertical integration and expanding capacity to strengthen Keel’s position as a premier advanced manufacturer serving the nuclear navy, maritime defense, and land, launch, and surveillance markets.
“At Keel, we believe in building things the right way, which begins with a solid foundation and the right team to support our growth,” said Brian Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Keel. “With over four decades of combined senior leadership experience, John and Matt share a vision for delivering exceptional quality and value to our customers and employees. Their leadership will be vital in leveraging Keel’s strengths, including its dedicated workforce, strong track record, and deep-water access, to ensure sustainable and ongoing capacity expansion within the defense industrial base.”
Klein and Geiger will assume their new roles immediately.
Keel is a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, a private investment firm based in the Washington, D.C. area, specializing in government-regulated industries.