Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. has appointed Frank V. Balon as its new President and Chief Legal Officer, effective June 2, 2026, following a rigorous search for a successor to founder Sumit Majumdar. Majumdar, who founded the company over two decades ago, will transition to a role as a Limited Partner and Lead Director of Energy and Agriculture at Verite Capital Partners while retaining a long-term position on Buffalo Biodiesel's Board of Directors.
Balon brings extensive experience from his previous role as Co-President, Chief Legal Officer, and Board Director at Steuben Foods Inc. in Elma, NY, where he helped scale operations from 400 to nearly 800 employees over 15 years. He holds a J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law and has a background in business and commercial litigation, having practiced in New York City and locally at Hiscock & Barclay.
Majumdar expressed confidence in Balon's leadership, stating, "Frank possesses the exact blend of operational brilliance and legal acumen needed to scale our business, but more importantly, he shares our uncompromising commitment to environmental stewardship." Majumdar highlighted the company's environmental achievements, noting that Buffalo Biodiesel has prevented millions of tons of CO2e over the last two decades, using the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's GWP20 standards. In 2025 alone, the company offset 685,850 tons of CO2e, and Majumdar believes Balon's leadership will help surpass one million tons annually.
Buffalo Biodiesel, founded in 2005, has grown into one of the largest waste cooking oil recycling operations in the nation, serving over 30,000 restaurants across 17 states. The company has set industry standards for ethics and operations through cutting-edge technology. Majumdar, recognized internationally as an expert on waste oil collection, has been a weekly contributor to Bloomberg Green Markets and has advocated for fairness in the industry, leading efforts against organized crime in the waste oil sector that resulted in successful prosecutions at local, state, and federal levels.
This leadership change positions Buffalo Biodiesel to continue its growth trajectory and environmental impact. Balon's operational and legal expertise is expected to drive the company toward new sustainability benchmarks, potentially influencing the broader renewable fuels and recycling industries. The transition also allows Majumdar to focus on green energy and agriculture investments through Verite Capital Partners, which could further advance the sector.
For more information, visit Buffalo Biodiesel's website.
