Empire Petroleum Partners Appoints New CEO & CFO

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Empire Petroleum Partners LLC appointed two new executives to its leadership team. Hank Heithaus will become the new CEO, while David Potter will take on the role of chief financial officer.

These appointments are part of Empire's strategy to further develop its current markets and increase its national footprint in the fuel distribution industry, the company stated.

"The addition of these two seasoned petroleum industry executives brings a wealth of talent and leadership to our rapidly growing enterprise," said Empire Chief Operating Officer Mike Diebus. "We are extremely excited to have Hank and David join our team, and we look forward to capitalizing on their outstanding management abilities to take us to the next level of competitiveness."

Prior to joining Empire, Heithaus served as president of Murphy Oil Corp. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University.

"With his extensive industry background and experience, Hank Heithaus brings a unique combination of strategic thinking and a fresh management direction to our team," said Empire Executive Vice President Rick Golman. "He is the right person to lead Empire at this stage of our company's evolution, as we stand poised to pursue new markets and grow the ones where we already have a strong foothold."

Potter previously served as CFO for Alon Brands Inc., the largest 7-Eleven licensee in the United States. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma, and is a certified public accountant and certified valuation analyst.

"David Potter joining Empire is an important milestone during an era of sustained growth and continued financial stability in our organization," said Eli Kimel, Empire board member. "His thorough understanding of both the fuel distribution value chain and the convenience store market makes [him] a valuable addition to our already strong executive team."