Our Tribe's Leaders

As chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company, Garry Ridge is responsible for developing and implementing high-level strategies, all operations, and the oversight of all relationships and partnerships for the company.

Garry is passionate about the learning and empowering organizational culture he has helped establish at the WD-40Company, and his vision and leadership have positively impacted the WD-40 Company in both measurable and immeasurable ways.

Garry joined WD-40 Company in 1987 and has held various management positions in the company, including executive vice president and chief operating officer, and vice president of international. He has worked directly with WD-40 Company in over 50 countries. In 1997, he was appointed president and chief executive officer of WD-40 Company.

A native of Australia, Garry served in advisory roles for the Australian Marketing Institute and the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association. Currently, he serves as a member of the board of governors of The San Diego Foundation, and the University of San Diego’s School of Business Administration.

Garry is an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego where he teaches leadership development, talent management, and succession planning in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership program. In 2009, he co-authored a book with Ken Blanchard outlining his effective leadership techniques, titled “Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy called ‘Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A.’ ”

Garry holds a certificate in Modern Retailing and wholesale distribution and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.

As president and chief operating officer of WD-40 Company, Steve is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all three of the company’s operating segments as well as the global coherency of its brand and digital strategies.

Steve has been with the company since 1991 and most recently held the role of division president, Americas and chief brand officer. Prior to that role, he held various management positions with the company, including European commercial director, European sales director, director of continental Europe, country manager Germany and, international area manager.

Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Steve worked as an export sales executive at Temco, BICC Electronics where he managed Swiss, German and Austrian regions.

Steve is a native of the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor’s degree in both French and German and a master’s degree from the London Business School.

As vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Rich has global responsibility for the company’s legal affairs and corporate governance. He also serves as the company’s chief compliance officer.

Prior to joining WD-40 Company in 2014, Rich practiced law in San Diego for 32 years. He provided corporate and business counsel to the company for all of those years. In 1981, he joined Harmsen Carpenter Sidell & Olson, APC, which combined with Gordon & Rees LLP in 2000. At Gordon & Rees, Rich served as co-chair of the firm’s business practice group.

Currently, Rich serves as chair of the board of directors of Educational Enrichment Systems, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing state-funded and affordable quality early childhood education and development programs in San Diego County.

Rich received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Colby College.

As the managing director of WD-40 Company’s Asia-Pacific segment, Geoff is responsible for overseeing all operations throughout the Pacific Rim, Asia and Australia. Geoff also serves as a board member of WD-40 Company (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

Geoff joined the company in 1996 and assumed the role of managing director in 1997. He was responsible for overseeing the opening of the Company’s subsidiary in China in 2006. He lived in Shanghai for more than three years before returning to Sydney, Australia in 2009.

Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Geoff spent 16 years with Columbia Pelikan in various management positions within the organization.

Geoff was educated in Sydney at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

As the managing director of WD-40 Company’s EMEA segment, Bill is responsible for overseeing all operations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Bill joined WD-40 Company in 1993 and has held various management positions, including international marketing manager and director of operations. In these roles, Bill was responsible for overseeing the opening of the company’s Malaysian office and managing the Company’s Asian regional office in Kuala Lumpur. In 1996, Bill moved to the United Kingdom to assume the role of managing director.

Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Bill was with Dow Corning for nearly ten years in various sales and marketing management roles throughout Asia.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and mathematics. His postgraduate studies include marketing at Monash University and management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

As the division president of WD-40 Company’s Americas segment, Patricia is responsible for overseeing all operations throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Patricia has been with WD-40 Company since 2005 and has held various management positions including, senior vice president and general manager of United States, senior vice president marketing and innovation of the Americas, and vice president Americas innovation development group.

Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Patricia worked in brand management at ConAgra Foods from2000 to 2005, International Home Foods from 1997 to 2000 and Diageo from 1995 to 1998. She currently serves on the board of advisors for the Cremo Company.

Patricia received her Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from King’s College and her Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.

As vice president, finance, treasurer and chief financial officer, Jay is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial operations, including the management of accounting, treasury, financial planning and reporting, investor relations and internal audit.

Jay joined WD-40 in December 1997 as manager, financial services and has held various financial leadership positions within the organization, including controller and vice president finance/controller. He assumed the role of chief financial officer in 2008.

Prior to joining WD-40 Company, Jay served in a variety of positions, including consulting roles in the tax practice of the public accounting firm Price Waterhouse LLP, now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 1991 to 1997.

Jay has a Master of Science in Accountancy from San Diego State University and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Riverside.

As vice president, global organization development, Stan is responsible for global oversight and leadership of the human resources function, with a primary mission to help prepare the company for its next 60 years of growth.

Stan has more than 40 years of experience as a line executive and business psychologist. Additionally, he has a strong entrepreneurial background, having founded several companies including KI Investment Holdings, LLC., HRG, Inc., Emlyn Systems, and Chromagen.

Stan currently serves as a member of the board of directors of KI Investment Holdings, LLC, HRG, Inc., Ridge Diagnostics and Sabia Inc. He served for six years as a director of the Corporate Directors Forum, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the quality and performance of corporate governance. His directorship experience ranges from start-ups to a $200M national manufacturer.

Stan received his Master of Science in industrial/organizational psychology from California State University, Long Beach and his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from San Diego State University. He has authored a weekly column for the San Diego Daily Transcript on matters of leadership, business and human development for more than ten years.