Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. has appointed Frank V. Balon as President and Chief Legal Officer, effective June 2, 2026, the company's Board of Directors announced. Balon succeeds founder Sumit Majumdar, who transitions to a role as Limited Partner and Lead Director of Energy and Agriculture at Verite Capital Partners.
Balon brings extensive experience from his previous role as Co-President, Chief Legal Officer, and Board Director at Steuben Foods Inc., 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 practiced business and commercial litigation in New York City and Buffalo at Hiscock & Barclay.
"Buffalo Biodiesel has been my life's work for over two decades," said Majumdar. "After screening hundreds of talented prospects, I know I am leaving this company in the hands of a highly capable visionary. 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."
Under Majumdar's leadership, Buffalo Biodiesel grew into one of the largest waste cooking oil recycling operations in the nation, serving over 30,000 restaurants across 17 states. The company has prevented millions of tons of CO2e over the last 20 years, applying the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's GWP20 standards. In 2025 alone, it offset 685,850 tons of CO2e.
"As Frank takes the helm, I firmly believe his leadership will drive us to break the one-million-ton annual offset mark and set new industry benchmarks for sustainability within a year," Majumdar added.
Majumdar, an internationally recognized expert on waste oil collection, has been a weekly contributor to Bloomberg Green Markets and has led efforts against organized crime in the waste oil sector, resulting in successful prosecutions at local, state, and federal levels. He will remain on Buffalo Biodiesel's Board of Directors while focusing on venture capital in green energy and agriculture.
The appointment signals a strategic move to continue scaling operations and advancing sustainability goals. For industry leaders, the transition underscores the importance of combining operational expertise with legal acumen to navigate regulatory complexities and drive growth in the circular economy. The company's focus on carbon offsetting and combating corruption sets benchmarks for ethical practices and environmental impact.
Buffalo Biodiesel Inc., founded in 2005, specializes in recovering and transforming used cooking oil and agricultural waste into renewable fuels and advanced materials. More information is available at www.buffalobiodiesel.com.
