Chemical industry appointments

31 August 2009 00:00  [Source: ICB]

EXECUTIVE BRIEFING: MARTIN LUNDIN
will become the new ­president and CEO of Swedish chemical group Perstorp Holding as of September 1. Mats Persson will become deputy CEO of the group on the same date. From 2001 to 2005, Lundin was executive vice ­president of human resources and communications at Perstorp. After working as a management consultant, he returned to the company at the start of 2009 as deputy CEO.

JYRKI ­MAKI-KALA
Finnish water treatment chemical company Kemira has appointed its chief financial officer, Jyrki Maki-Kala, to the post of deputy CEO as of September 1. The current deputy CEO, Esa Tirkkonen, will retire. Tirkkonen has held the position since 2000 and been employed by the firm since 1974.

RONALD WELLS
has been appointed by US plastics and compounds supplier A. Schulman to lead its North America resin distribution business, effective September 1. Wells's responsibilities will include directing all aspects of A. Schulman's North America resin distribution business. He will be responsible for overseeing strategic development of this business, to support the company's existing masterbatch and engineered plastics customer base in the region, and to capitalize on growing opportunities as global resin producers look increasingly to distribution to serve selected segments of the market. He will assist in global procurement and supply chain strategy and report to Gary Miller, vice president of global supply chain and chief procurement officer.

DAVID HESTER
US fluid systems group Swagelok has named David Hester as general manager for Swagelok Ltd., its operation on the Isle of Man, UK. In this role, Hester will be responsible for daily operations and continuous improvement of the facility. The manufacturing operations at Swagelok Ltd. help to complete the company's piping and regulator product offering for the oil, gas, and ­petrochemical industries. From the Isle of Man, Swagelok also serves local niche markets that require quick turnaround on high added value and specialized products. Hester joined Swagelok Ltd. as engineering manager in 2006 and has been instrumental in aligning and managing quality and process improvement initiatives.

DUPONT
has announced a number of leadership appointments: Thomas Connelly, executive vice president and chief innovation officer, will be responsible for the applied biosciences, nutrition and health, performance polymers, and packaging and industrial polymers businesses. James Borel, group vice president - DuPont Agriculture, has been named executive vice president. He will be responsible for the firm's Pioneer Hi-Bred and Crop Protection businesses.

TERRY CREWS
executive vice president and chief financial officer for Monsanto, will retire from the company, effective November 30. Carl Casale, currently executive vice president of strategy and operations, has been named as Crews' successor and will serve as special assistant to the CEO through to November 30. Monsanto is a global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products, based in St. Louis, Missouri, US.

JERRY DUMAS
chairman, president and CEO, has announced his plans to retire from Flotek in 2010. John Chisholm, currently a director of Flotek, has been appointed to serve as interim president while the company conducts the search for a new CEO. Flotek is a developer and ­distributor of ­specialty chemicals and ­down-hole drilling and ­production equipment, based in Houston, Texas, US.

PAMELA SWANSON
has been named president of Airgas North Central, reporting to B. Shaun Powers, Airgas Eastern Division president. Swanson replaces Ronald Stark, who has joined the Airgas corporate management team as senior vice president - sales and marketing. Airgas is a distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and hard goods, with headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania, US.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Who's affecting the industry this week...

FREDERICK HENDERSON
CEO of US auto group General Motors for attempting to develop a refinancing plan as he tries to keep control of its European Adam Opel unit. GM has been trying to sell off the unprofitable division. However, so far, bids from Magna International and RHJ International are thought to have been turned down.
Industry neutral

NICOLAS SARKOZY
for meeting with French ­bankers to discuss ­limits to their pay packages. The ­bankers are worried that new rules to curb their ­compensation may disadvantage them over ­foreign ­competitors. Measures could include ­forcing banks to reveal how they ­calculate bonuses.
Industry neutral

FAROUK SHAMI
CEO of US-headquartered hair appliance manufacturer, Farouk Systems, for deciding to move his entire manufacturing operations from China to the US. Shami said that outsourcing had led to a loss of control over manufacturing and distribution. There were also concerns about the loss of intellectual property rights. Many counterfeits originated in China, he declared.
Industry positive

By: Will Beacham
+44 20 8652 3214

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