Chester J. Kuchta Joins Northern Tier Energy LLC as Vice President Supply

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Tier Energy LLC announced today that Chester J. Kuchta has joined the company as Vice President Supply, effective immediately.

"We are thrilled to announce that Chet has joined our senior management team," said Mario E. Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of Northern Tier Energy. "Chet brings a wealth of commercial experience to our organization. He will focus on continuing to strengthen our crude oil sourcing activities and to enhance further our supplier relationships. Chet's extensive experience in petroleum refining makes this a very exciting opportunity for him and us."

As part of Northern Tier Energy's efforts to capitalize on the commercial opportunities available to us, Chet will work in close partnership with Rex Butcher, who will continue to be responsible for marketing and strategic projects as Vice President Marketing.

Most recently, Mr. Kuchta held the position of Chief Operating Officer of Petroplus Holdings AG, a leading European independent refiner and wholesaler of petroleum products. He worked as Petroplus' Chief Commercial Officer from June 2006 until November 2009, when he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

Prior to joining Petroplus, Mr. Kuchta was Vice President of Crude Oil Supply and Trading at the Premcor Refining Group Inc. from 2002 until Premcor's sale to Valero Energy Corporation in 2005. Mr. Kuchta also served as Crude Oil Supply Manager for Phillips 66 Company's East Coast and Gulf Coast Systems, following Phillips' acquisition of Tosco Corp. in 2001. Additionally, Mr. Kuchta served in various commercial and refining positions at Tosco from 1996 to 2001. Prior to joining Tosco, Mr. Kuchta spent six years at the Exxon Corporation in various refining, economic and environmental engineering positions.

Mr. Kuchta received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Brown University.

About Northern Tier Energy

Northern Tier Energy LLC is an independent downstream energy company headquartered in Ridgefield, CT with refining, retail, and pipeline operations serving the PADD II region of the United States. The company was established to own and operate the St. Paul Park Refinery as well as a retail network of SuperAmerica brand convenience stores and a 17% equity interest in the Minnesota Pipeline.

SOURCE Northern Tier Energy LLC

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