Wichita, Kansas-based Universal Lubricants, manufacturer and distributor of the high performance Eco Ultra® line of sustainable motor oils and transmission fluids, has announced the appointment of Jan Robert Horsfall as CEO.

Horsfall will oversee the company’s 430 employees and national operations, which include one of the world's most technologically advanced re-refineries in Wichita, Kansas. Through its closed loop process, the company collects, re-refines, blends and re-distributes its own engine oils and lubricants never losing guardianship within the chain.

Horsfall began his career with The Valvoline, where he advanced through sales and marketing positions before taking the role of Vice President of Consumer Brand Strategy.

Afterwards, after several years working for startup enterprises and technology companies, Mr. Horsfall joined Universal Lubricants as Chief Marketing Officer in 2012 where he was responsible for all marketing programs, consumer and industry partnership initiatives, internal and external communications, and agency management.

In 1996, Horsfall joined Internet search firm Lycos where he served on the senior team as Vice President of Marketing. Lycos was sold for $5.4 billion in 2000 to Terra Networks®. Mr. Horsfall then founded Blackstone®-backed Gemini Voice Solutions®, an early VoIP pioneer. Recently he held the role of Chief Marketing Officer at Turbine Inc., creator and operator of some of the world’s most popular online games. Brought in by Highland Capital Partners® as part of a company realignment, he left Turbine after it was successfully sold to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in June of 2010.

Prior to his appointment to the Universal Lubricants executive team, Mr. Horsfall co-founded Startup Colorado, a statewide initiative that supports early stage technology companies.

Mr. Horsfall, a graduate of Colorado State University, is a member of the board of directors of Colorado State University’s College of Business; Tins.ly and Devium, and is on the advisory board of Conceal Fab. He is a strong supporter and advocate for the non-profit Surfrider Foundation and an active outdoorsman..

Established in 1929, Universal Lubricants, now owned by private-equity company Pegasus Capital Advisors, processes used motor oil and produces more than 13 million gallons of API Group II base oil per year for direct sale or for blending into the company’s Eco Ultra line of finished lubricants from its re-refinery in Wichita, Kansas.