Names in the News for February

The following industry professionals have recently received appointments or promotions.

Gordon Overs, Barentz CASE & Plastics

Barentz has appointed Gordon Overs as operations manager for its CASE & Plastics divisions.

Overs has experience in operations management, having held leadership roles at Aerosol Systems, Inc., Ludlow Composites, Premix, and Malish Corp. Overs holds multiple professional certifications, including Lean Manufacturing-Green Belt, Quick Response Manufacturing, Professional Communications, and APICS.

“Gordon’s skill and expertise gained over 30 years in operations makes him the perfect choice to lead the Barentz CASE & Plastics procurement, customer service, and operations teams into the future,” said Mark J. Blakely, president of CASE & Plastics. “He’s overseen important global projects, implemented sustainable processes, and developed promotable talent throughout his career.”

Ranjini Murthy, Azelis

Ranjini Murthy joined Azelis as senior vice president of commercial and digital excellence. In her new role, Murthy will be responsible for leading the digital strategy and commercial excellence programs for Azelis Americas. She will report to U.S. Managing Director Vuk Milojkovic.

Murthy began her career as a patent engineer at a law firm supporting clients in the chemical and oilfield industries. She transitioned into the chemical industry working in different technical and commercial roles at Henkel Corporation, Air Products, Wacker, and Stepan Company. In her most recent role at Stepan, Murthy worked as the business director for the CASE, Gypsum, and Industrial Solutions.

Murthy holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Susan Sutton, ChemQuest

The ChemQuest Group has appointed Susan Sutton as its new director of communications.

During her nearly 24 years of editorial and content development in B2B publishing, Sutton covered industries including adhesives, sealants, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials. Most recently, she served as editor-in-chief, integrated media for Adhesives & Sealants Industry magazine, where she was responsible for the publication’s eMagazine and website content.

In her new role, Sutton, who is based in Ohio, will work closely with ChemQuest leadership to develop and communicate business strategy initiatives.

“Susan brings many years of experience and contacts from the adhesive industry, which is highly applicable to the broader specialty chemicals world,” said Edye Fox Abrams, ChemQuest vice president business development and marketing.

Sutton earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio Northern University, as well as a professional certificate in digital marketing from The George Washington University School of Business.

Montaha Hidefi, ChemQuest

The ChemQuest Group has appointed Montaha Hidefi as color consultant.

In this role, Hidefi will draw on her 25 years of specialty chemicals, coatings, pigments, and color consulting experience to support clients in ChemQuest’s Business Strategy & Transformation and Technology Development pillars.

Hidefi’s background includes working in international marketing, powder coatings, and color analysis and forecasting with companies such as Rohm and Haas Co. (now Dow), Merck Group, and TIGER Drylac. She founded Color Landing Studio in 2018 and established the concept of Color Archeology™ in 2020. Color Archeology encompasses observation of societal trends, analysis of their current impact, and predictions for how the trends will evolve into the future.

“Montaha takes an analytical and investigative approach when developing color forecast projections that are both client- and industry-centric,” said Daniel Murad, ChemQuest CEO.

Joel Shertok, Milis Rodrigues, ChemQuest

The ChemQuest Group has appointed Milis Rodrigues and Joel Shertok, Ph.D., as directors.

Rodrigues will explore business development opportunities in Brazil. She will also serve as a client resource for ChemQuest’s Business Strategy & Transformation, Technology Development, and M&A Advisory Services pillars. Shertok will support ChemQuest’s Manufacturing Excellence and M&A Advisory Services pillars.

Rodrigues has 33 years of experience in the paint and coatings industry. She started at AkzoNobel and rose to several positions within that company. She then moved to Jotun Coatings, and later, Hempel. Prior to joining ChemQuest, her most recent role was business unit director, Brazil and South Cone, for PPG Protective Marine Coatings.

During his 40-year career, Shertok has held numerous senior-level executive positions with companies such as Advanced Plasma Solutions, Rochester Midland Corp., and Graver Technologies, and he founded Process Industries Consultants, Inc. in 2014.

Jim Kavanagh, AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel has appointed Jim Kavanagh as its new managing director for the industrial coatings business.

Kavanagh is tasked with leading the company’s strategic direction across a diverse portfolio, which includes coil and extrusion coatings, packaging coatings, and wood finishes and adhesives.

Kavanagh joined AkzoNobel in 1990 as a development chemist within protective coatings. During his 32 years with the company, he has held various positions, including roles within product management and marketing. From 2000, he worked internationally as a general manager and commercial director based in China, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Most recently, Kavanagh was responsible for leading the company’s metal coatings business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) as regional commercial director.

Ram Vadlamannati, PPG

PPG has announced that Ram Vadlamannati will transition to lead a newly created PPG operations organization. Vadlamannati is currently senior vice president of protective and marine coatings (PMC) and president of PPG EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). In his new role, he will maintain executive oversight accountability of PPG’s EMEA region and report to PPG president and chief executive officer Tim Knavish. PPG created the operations organization to encompass supply chain; operational excellence; manufacturing operations; procurement; and environment, health and safety functions. Leaders of those functions will report to Vadlamannati.

In other PPG news, Pedro Serret Salvat will become president and general counsel, PPG EMEA, effective immediately. Serret Salvat will continue to report to PPG senior vice president and general counsel, Anne Foulkes. Serret Salvat succeeds Ram Vadlamannati.

Amy Ericson, currently senior vice president, packaging coatings, will become senior vice president, PMC. She will also assume executive oversight accountability for PPG’s Latin America region.

Kevin Braun, vice president, global industrial coatings and interim industrial segment leader, will assume executive oversight responsibility for the following PPG businesses: global automotive coatings, specialty coatings and materials, and packaging coatings.

Chancey Hagerty, vice president, global automotive refinish, will continue in his current role and assume executive oversight accountability for the Asia Pacific region.