Sterilex Announces Leadership Transition

HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Sterilex LLC, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company and developer of food safety antimicrobial products, announced a leadership transition. CEO Alex Josowitz is transitioning to a strategic advisory role as he continues to serve on the board of directors, and Colleen Akehurst will serve as interim CEO.

 Under Josowitz’s leadership, Sterilex experienced year-over-year record growth with market expansion and new product launches that sustainably address the industry’s greatest microbial challenges, the company said.

“Building Sterilex, growing it into a market leader and working with this incredible team has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Josowitz. “I am excited about the future of Sterilex, and I look forward to continuing my support as a board member.”

Akehurst, a managing director at Paine Schwartz Partners on the portfolio excellence platform team, brings experience in overseeing CEO transitions, particularly in family-owned businesses. 

Akehurst has served as CEO in start-up and family-owned consumer product companies and in a variety of marketing and global strategy leadership roles at Heinz and Mondelez. She began her career with Procter & Gamble in engineering roles, followed by consulting roles at McKinsey. Akehurst will work closely with the Sterilex team to bridge the organization from Josowitz’s leadership to the next CEO.

“I look forward to working with the Sterilex leadership team and Alex in his continuing board role to continue growing this incredible business and its portfolio of innovative products,” Akehurst said.

Rick Greubel, chairman of the Sterilex board, added, “On behalf of the board of directors, I’d like to thank Alex for building a truly innovative food safety antimicrobial business and an outstanding team. We look forward to continuing to work with him on the board going forward.”