PEARL RIVER, N.Y. — Hudson Technologies Inc. announced that Jay Kestenbaum will be retiring, effective July 1, 2021.  Kestenbaum currently serves as Hudson’s senior vice president of business development. Kestenbaum came to Hudson Technologies in October 2017 with the acquisition of Airgas Refrigerants in the role of senior vice president of sales and purchasing.  Since that time, he has worked closely with the late Kevin Zugibe (founder of Hudson Technologies) and Brian Coleman, Hudson’s president, CEO, and chairman of the board of directors, assisting with the integration process.

Kestenbaum grew up in the HVACR industry. He received his BS in general business from New York University and an MBA in accounting from New York University Graduate School of Business. He began his career with Price Waterhouse as a public accountant in the mid-1970s. He later received his CPA and in 1978, joined his father’s company, Refrigeration Sales Co. Inc., as vice president. After his father retired, Kestenbaum and his brother changed the company name to Refron Inc. and served as joint proprietors in the roles of president and vice president, respectively. In 2008, Airgas Inc. acquired Refron, and Kestenbaum agreed to lead their sales and purchasing teams for their newly formed division, Airgas Refrigerants Inc. He continued in this role from 2008 until October 2017.

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!