Compass Minerals Finds Next COO, CFO

Posed January 30, 2025

Overland Park-based Compass Minerals announced Patrick Merrin and Peter Fjellman will be appointed to the roles of chief operations officer and chief financial officer respectively.

Merrin’s appointment is effective March 3 and fills the COO while Fjellman, whose appointment is effective immediately, succeeds Jeff Cathey who has decided to depart Compass Minerals for personal reasons, according to a release.

As COO, Merrin will be responsible for the primary operational management of the company’s 12 production and packaging facilities across the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Patrick Merrin is the newly appointed chief operations officer for Compass Minerals. Photo credit: Compass Minerals.

Merrin joins Compass Minerals from Vancouver-based Lundin Mining Corporation where he serves as executive vice president of technical services. He was also named chief executive officer of Copper Mountain Mining Corp prior the the company being acquired by Hudbay Minerals in 2023.

As CFO, Fjellman will be responsible for financial management for the company, including accounting, reporting, tax, internal audit, treasury, financial planning and analysis and investor relations.

Peter Fjellman is the newly appointed chief financial officer for Compass Minerals. Photo credit: Compass Minerals.

With over 30 years of industry experience, Fjellman most recently served as senior vice president of finance for the Americas and Asia Pacific for GXO Logistics in North Carolina.

“Operating safely and efficiently, while aggressively managing our balance sheet to maximize the value of our advantaged assets, are foundational in how we strive to run our company,” president and CEO of Compass Minerals, Edward C. Dowling Jr., said in a release. “I look forward to the additive contributions that Pat and Peter will bring to Compass Minerals as we continue our focused efforts on consistent performance and continuous improvement across our business.”