Nitrex/UPC-Marathon announces the promotions of Kurt Willms to Sales Director, Americas and Asia, and Marcin Stoklosa to Sales Director, Europe–Middle East, as the company reinforces its commitment to in-person customer engagement and deep technical support.

“These promotions are part of a larger effort to bring our most experienced people closer to the customer,” says Mark Hemsath, President of Nitrex/UPC-Marathon. “Between us, our sales team has over 300 years of combined industry experience. Kurt and I each bring over 35 years and Marcin adds over 20years. That knowledge needs to be out in the field—not behind a screen.”

While many companies have shifted to virtual-first sales models, Nitrex/UPC-Marathon is strengthening its in-person approach. The newly realigned sales structure emphasizes face-to-face contact, local presence, and hands-on technical insight.

“We’ve built a team that knows how to solve real-world heat-treating challenges,” says Willms. “Whether it’s modernizing a legacy system, automating processes, or specifying a new vacuum furnace, we’ve done it—and we’re ready to do it again, side by side with our customers.”

Stoklosa adds: “Europe, the UK, and the Middle East represent diverse market needs across more than 30 countries. You can’t serve that complexity from a distance. Being there, on-site, in the plant—that’s how we deliver the right solution. And we continue to learn every day, because this industry never stands still.”

By investing in senior leadership and prioritizing field presence, Nitrex/UPC-Marathon aims to deliver faster response times, smarter recommendations, and stronger customer relationships across all global markets.