About Us

Frank Bergonzi is a 40-year veteran of the Chemical Industry. He began his career in Chicago, IL, with Union Carbide’s Silicones and Urethanes Intermediates group in 1983.

In 1995, Frank joined Witco Corporation in Greenwich, CT, as North American Distributor Director for their Oleo Surfactant Group (OSG). There, he held numerous positions, including Director of Distribution and Director of Sales, until Witco divested the business. In June 1999, he re-joined Union Carbide’s distribution management group and remained in that role until the merger with The Dow Chemical Co. in February 2001.

In March 2001, Frank joined Shell Chemicals LP as Director of National Distributors before transitioning to BASF Corporation in 2003. He spent 9 years at BASF as Director of Corporate Distribution in North America and had responsibility for the $2B channel. In that role, he was responsible for managing the executive-level relationships of the distribution partners, strategy, and profitability of the network.

After spending 29 years in distribution management roles with Fortune 100 Chemical Producers, Frank joined KODA Distribution Group (KDG) in August 2012 as CEO and President. He spearheaded KDG’s growth strategy by diversifying into additional high-growth specialty markets. Frank’s focus and expertise in M&A resulted in acquiring six strategic specialty distributors in three years. He also reconfigured KDG into six industry verticals, including a Canadian operation, and built KDG into the premier specialty chemical distributor in North America, with revenues of over $750M.

As a result of Frank’s growth plans being realized via M&A and sustainable organic growth, he led KDG’s sale process, which resulted in the sale to Azelis, a portfolio company of APAX Partners, in December 2015. Frank became CEO and President of Americas of Azelis and a member of the Azelis Board of Directors. In December 2018, EQT acquired Azelis from Apax. Frank has made seven accretive acquisitions while at Azelis, expanding geographically into the LATAM region and entering into new market segments in the US (i.e., Food & Nutrition). Azelis Americas surpassed $1.7B in revenue and $235M EBITDA in 2022, from $325M in sales and $24M in EBITDA when he started in 2012. After 7 ½ years in leading Azelis Americas, Frank elected to retire effective September 30, 2023.

Frank has served as a Board member of ACD (Alliance for Chemical Distribution) and was instrumental in setting policies for Environmental, Health, and Safety protocols for distributors as Chairman of the Supplier Advisory Panel. In addition, he served as a Board Trustee of the Chemical Education Fund. He has been an active member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), American Coatings Association (ACA), and Drug, Chemical, and Associated Trade (DCAT).

Frank and his wife, Mary-Lisa, have been married for 37 years and reside in Naples, FL, and Westport, CT. They have three grown children and four grandchildren. He enjoys golf and boating and is a member of Shorehaven Golf Club in E. Norwalk, CT, as well as Club Pelican Bay, Naples Yacht Club, and the Port Royal Club in Naples, FL.

Frank received his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1983, where he received Deans List honors and was a member of UCONN’s D1 soccer team. He was also inducted into UCONN’s Academy of Distinguished Engineers.