Gas Compass Minerals Appoints Ashley Ward as Chief Accounting Officer, Strengthening Leadership Amid Strategic Growth
Gas Compass Minerals, a leading global provider of essential minerals serving diverse industries across agriculture, industrial manufacturing, consumer products, and transportation, has announced the promotion of Ashley Ward to the position of Chief Accounting Officer (CAO). The appointment underscores the company’s strategic commitment to strengthening its financial infrastructure, enhancing corporate governance, and aligning financial operations with long-term growth objectives.
Gas Ward, who most recently served as Vice President, Corporate Controller since July 2024, steps into the CAO role with nearly two decades of progressive accounting leadership in the energy, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. In her new capacity, she will be responsible for overseeing Compass Minerals’ accounting organization, including technical accounting, financial reporting, compliance with U.S. GAAP and SEC regulations, and implementation of scalable accounting systems to support a complex global operation.
Gas Ashley has consistently demonstrated exceptional technical acumen, strategic thinking, and a relentless focus on operational excellence throughout her tenure with Compass Minerals,” said Peter Fjellman, Chief Financial Officer at Compass Minerals. “Her promotion to Chief Accounting Officer is both well-deserved and mission-critical as we continue evolving our business to better serve our customers, stakeholders, and shareholders. Ashley will play a central role in ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of our financial reporting as we execute our long-range strategy.
Expanded Responsibilities as Chief Accounting Office
Gas As CAO, Ward will lead a multifunctional team responsible for the design, execution, and continuous improvement of the company’s global accounting policies, internal controls, and financial close processes. Her mandate includes ensuring that the company remains in full compliance with all applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements, particularly as Compass Minerals continues to navigate industry transformation, portfolio diversification, and geographic expansion.
In addition to managing technical accounting issues and regulatory filings, Gas Ward will work closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to streamline financial operations and optimize the company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Her remit will also include oversight of external audit processes and alignment of internal accounting functions with the company’s ESG reporting and sustainability metrics—an area of growing importance for institutional investors.
We are placing a greater emphasis on financial governance, data accuracy, and proactive risk management across all levels of our organization,” Fjellman added. “Ashley’s leadership and financial stewardship will be critical as we continue to integrate new technologies, expand internationally, and respond to evolving stakeholder expectations.
A Career Built on Financial Rigor and Industry Versatility
Ward’s promotion comes as the latest milestone in a career defined by technical expertise, cross-sector versatility, and consistent advancement through increasingly senior leadership roles. Before joining Compass Minerals, she spent over 10 years with Crestwood Equity Partners, a prominent midstream energy company headquartered in Houston, Texas. During her time at Crestwood, Ward served in multiple high-responsibility roles, including Assistant Controller and Director of Operational Accounting and Fixed Assets, where she led initiatives in financial consolidation, asset accounting, audit readiness, and ERP implementation.
Gas Earlier in her career, Ward began her accounting journey at Flint Hills Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, where she gained valuable experience in financial reporting and internal controls within a large-scale, multinational enterprise.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Wichita State University, a foundation that prepared her for a trajectory marked by technical rigor, strategic insight, and leadership agility.
Role Significance: The Strategic Value of the CAO in Today’s Corporate Environment
The role of Chief Accounting Officer has evolved beyond traditional accounting oversight to become a strategic pillar within the finance function. CAOs today are charged with driving financial accuracy, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation in a business environment marked by complexity, rapid change, and increasing transparency.
Gas At Compass Minerals, the CAO function is especially vital as the company navigates a changing landscape across its core business areas, including highway deicing, plant nutrition, and lithium resource development. With operations spanning North America, South America, and other international markets, the ability to maintain consistent and compliant accounting practices across geographies is key to the company’s continued success.
Ward’s appointment signals Compass Minerals’ recognition of the need for experienced, forward-looking financial leaders who can not only manage current reporting requirements but also anticipate future regulatory shifts, integrate sustainability metrics, and support digital modernization initiatives.
Accounting is no longer a back-office function—it’s an integral driver of business intelligence, investor confidence, and strategic execution,” Ward commented. “I’m honored to take on this role at such a pivotal time in Compass Minerals’ journey and look forward to helping shape our financial future alongside an outstanding leadership team.
Compass Minerals: Positioning for Sustainable, Long-Term Growth
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Compass Minerals is a vertically integrated global producer of essential minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash (SOP), magnesium chloride, and more recently, lithium resources. The company operates 12 production and packaging facilities across North and South America, serving industries from agriculture to energy storage.
Over the past several years, Compass Minerals has embarked on a strategic transformation aimed at strengthening its core businesses while positioning itself as a player in the global energy transition. Central to this transformation is its development of a lithium brine resource at its Ogden, Utah site—a move that has drawn attention from electric vehicle manufacturers, battery producers, and energy investors.
As Compass Minerals accelerates investment in innovation, infrastructure, and ESG performance, it requires robust financial oversight and transparent reporting to maintain investor trust and regulatory compliance. The appointment of Ashley Ward as CAO supports this broader transformation by ensuring the company’s financial operations are fit for a more dynamic, technology-driven future.
A Stronger Financial Foundation for a Changing Industry
With a clear mandate, deep industry experience, and a strong leadership bench, Compass Minerals is poised to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing business environment. From adapting to extreme weather and shifting agricultural trends, to preparing for the growing demand for battery minerals and sustainable inputs, the company’s future growth will be grounded in sound financial planning and operational excellence.
Ashley Ward’s promotion is not only a recognition of her past contributions but also a signal of the company’s future priorities. As she steps into her new role, stakeholders—from employees and customers to regulators and shareholders—can expect continued focus on integrity, compliance, and performance in every aspect of Compass Minerals’ financial operations.
