Ruben Velasquez serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Stepan Company, a global leader in specialty chemicals and surfactants. With more than 25 years of finance experience, Velasquez has played a pivotal role in Stepan's financial strategy, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. His career began in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche, followed by progressive finance leadership roles at Kraft Foods, where he specialized in financial planning, analysis, reporting, and treasury management across domestic and international operations. Velasquez joined Stepan in 2005 as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, quickly advancing through key positions including Vice President of Finance for Latin America and North America. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements, such as optimizing global supply chain financing, leading treasury initiatives that enhanced liquidity, and supporting strategic expansions into high-growth markets. Under his guidance, Stepan navigated economic volatility, executed value-accretive acquisitions, and improved profitability metrics. As CFO since 2020, Velasquez oversees all global finance functions, including accounting, tax, internal audit, investor relations, and risk management. He champions data-driven decision-making and ESG-integrated financial strategies, contributing to Stepan's strong balance sheet and shareholder returns while fostering a culture of innovation and fiscal discipline.