Tom Kleino, president of L&L Products Americans in Romeo, has retired after 34 years of service with the company. John Babi, vice president of the company, is his successor.
Kleino has established himself as a well-respected leader, using a background in sales, marketing, and business management to drive growth at L&L Products and expand the company’s footprint.
During his time at L&L, Kleino held various management roles in the organization before becoming vice president and general manager in 2008 and president in 2011.
“Reflecting on my career at L&L Products, I feel a tremendous sense of fulfillment,” Kleino says. “During my tenure, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside an extremely dedicated, talented team, driving innovation and growth in ways we could only imagine. As I step into this next chapter, I have full confidence in future leadership and the incredible achievements still to come. I look forward to cheering on the remarkable people who make up L&L Products as they continue to push boundaries, cultivate solutions and shape the future.”
For more than three decades, Kleino has been instrumental in the company’s growth and success, marked by countless partnerships, awards, and product innovations that have revolutionized industries from automotive, aerospace, and beyond. Also under Kleino, L&L Products announced the expansion of the Romeo facility in 2023 – including an investment of $25 million and the creation of more than 60 manufacturing jobs.
Babi, who has been with L&L Products for more than nine years, has served in many roles at L&L, including purchasing and supply chain, operations, and most recently vice president. Babi has been successful in each role by having a people-first, culture-first approach while driving operational strategy and overseeing and streamlining enterprise-wide processes. Before joining L&L Products in 2015, Babi got this entrepreneurial spirit working at his family’s businesses and spent over nine years at major automakers in various roles.
“L&L has achieved incredible milestones under Tom’s leadership,” says Babi. “I’m honored to continue his legacy and that of our founders, Bob Ligon and Gene Lane, to ensure L&L Products continues to be a leader in advanced manufacturing and materials science and is at the forefront of product innovation for decades to come.”
