BOARD MEMBER
Soma Somasundaram
President and CEO, ChampionX
Sivasankaran “Soma” Somasundaram is President and Chief Executive Officer of ChampionX, a global leader in technologies and services that support the energy industry. Soma has led the company through significant transformation, including its spin-off from Dover Corporation and the expansion of its portfolio to include Chemical Technologies. He brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience in energy, technology, and operations, with prior executive roles at Dover, GL&V, and Baker Hughes. Soma serves on the Board of Directors of Lennox International Inc. and has advised the U.S. Department of Energy as a member of the National Petroleum Council. He has been recognized for his leadership with honors such as the Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO and ALLY Energy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His global perspective and commitment to energy innovation align with efforts to expand access to affordable, reliable energy worldwide.
My ‘why’ is very near and dear to me. I grew up in a village in India; my mom cooked with wood and dried cow dung, so I distinctly experienced [energy poverty]. Growing up, this was my life, and, more importantly, I remember the sacrifice my mom made. I remember when she got a kerosene stove, and then ultimately a gas stove, and how it changed her quality of life. So that’s my ‘why.’ I know what this means.