Campbell Promotes Buese To CEO, Stephaich Now Executive Chairman
Campbell Transportation Company, a Pittsburgh-based inland marine transportation and services company, has announced the promotion of Kyle Buese to president and chief executive officer.
Peter Stephaich, who previously served as CEO, will transition to the role of executive chairman.
“Kyle has shown exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to Campbell’s values, positioning us for continued success,” Stephaich said in making the announcement. “This promotion is part of a long-range succession plan to ensure continuity and reinforce our core values.”
Buese joined Campbell Transportation Company, which has offices in both Pittsburgh and in Houston, Texas, in 2019. Under his leadership as president, the company has tripled in size and diversified its business, the company said.
It is an honor and privilege to take on this role as president and CEO,” Buese said. “At Campbell, we have built a culture that thrives on safety and a commitment to excellence. Our ability to adapt and respond to market changes will remain essential as we continue to grow.”
Buese stressed that safety remains Campbell’s highest priority.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and the communities we serve,” he said.
He also noted the company’s resilience, saying, “We have established ourselves as an agile and adaptable organization, able to thrive in any market condition. My commitment is to guide us forward with this same flexibility, ensuring long-term success.”
Both Stephaich and Buese extended gratitude to the Campbell team for their dedication and contributions. “We have a bright future ahead,” Buese said. “I am eager to lead Campbell into this next chapter, building on our foundation of trust, agility and dedication to our clients and communities.”
Campbell’s Recent Growth
Campbell Transportation Company has gone through a recent period of growth that included opening the company’s southern base of operations in Houston in September 2023. The office primarily serves the company’s Gulf Coast and liquid tank barge business.
The new office built on the growth of Campbell’s Gulf Coast presence following the company’s April 2022 acquisition of Houston-based E Squared Marine Service, which significantly expanded its tank barge business and provided operations and fleeting locations, along with eight towboats and 25 barges.
The company also announced in March 2023 that it was purchasing the assets of NGL Marine LLC to further diversify its marine business. The acquisition allowed the company to, in total, own or operate more than 1,250 barges throughout the inland waterway system, including 95 tank barges, Campbell Transportation Company said at the time.
Its dry cargo and liquid barge fleet is supported by the operation of more than 60 towboats.
