The following industry professionals have recently received appointments or promotions.
PCI Announces 2023 Board of Directors and Executive Officers
The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) has announced its 2023 board of directors and executive officers.
- President: Shelley Verdun, business manager, powder coatings—Americas region, PPG. Verdun replaces Chris Merritt, vice president of Gema North America, Gema USA, Inc.
- Vice President: Tom Whalen, vice president sales and marketing, TCI Powder Coatings
- Secretary/Treasurer: Bob Cregg, business director North America, Covestro Coating Resins, Inc.
The following individuals will remain on the PCI board of directors: David Flatten, president and CEO, Inland Powder Coating; Teddy Piepkow, Central US and Canada powder sales manager, Nordson Corporation; Marty Sawyer, CEO, Trimac Industrial Systems, LLC; John Sudges, sales manager, Midwest Finishing Systems, Inc.; Mike Withers, architectural segment leader, Axalta Coating Systems; and Mark Ziehm, senior technology manager, Henkel Corporation.
Pilot Chemical Company Hires Microbiologist to Oversee New Lab
Hale
Pilot Chemical Company, a specialty chemical manufacturer, has announced that Sarah Hale has been appointed as microbiologist to conduct challenge testing and oversee its new microbiology lab.
Hale, who recently joined the team, has experience in microbial challenge testing, household care product claims testing, research and development, and media preparation.
“When we decided to build a micro lab to support our biocides business, we knew we had to find an expert that could successfully launch the lab and establish industry-accepted processes and procedures,” said John Manka, Ph.D., director of research and development and Sharonville Technology Center Site Manager. “We were lucky to find Sarah, as she had the exact training and extensive experience we needed to lead our new lab. She had testing experience in the markets we serve, and her knowledge will enable us to develop better biocide products.”
Pilot Chemical Company opened the new microbiology lab, located in its Sharonville Technology Center, in January to help bring new and innovative biocidal products to the market.
Hale most recently worked as a research and development microbiologist for Advanced Testing Laboratory in Blue Ash, OH. She has bachelor’s of science in biology and forensics from Northern Kentucky University and minored in chemistry and criminalistics.
Portia Yarborough Joins Michelman as Chief Science and Sustainability Officer
Yarborough
Michelman, an industry manufacturer, has announced that Portia Yarborough, Ph.D., has joined the company as chief science and sustainability officer (CSSO), effective February 6.
Yarborough has over two decades of experience at DuPont in providing clients with solutions in engineered materials, elastomers, composites, and sealing technologies in an array of markets.
“We are delighted to welcome Portia to our team. Her leadership expertise and industry knowledge will help us accelerate our sustainability initiatives throughout Michelman and the industries we serve. Her passion for community and professional involvement—from advocating for trails and scenic byways with Delaware Greenways to sparking curiosity with educational experiences through Hope Academy Fund—aligns perfectly with Michelman’s values of focusing on people and communities. We are very excited to see how Portia will serve as a catalyst for Michelman’s continued growth as a sustainability leader,” said Rick Michelman, president and CEO at Michelman.
Laurent Tellier Joins Arkema as SVP Performance Additives
Tellier
Laurent Tellier has joined Arkema Group as senior vice president of Performance Additives and a member of the Group’s executive committee, replacing Marie-Pierre Chevallier, who retired.
Arkema says that his experience in a multicultural environment and of customer partnerships, as well as his passion for innovation, will be key assets for the company.
Since 2019, he has been CEO of Saint-Gobain Surface Solutions. Laurent Tellier has 20 years of experience at Saint-Gobain, with an international career in the three major regions where Arkema is also geographically present (Asia, Americas, and Europe).
He has managed several business activities and types of businesses, including handling more upstream activities and B-to-C activities and within the ceramics, abrasives, and composite systems as well as surface solutions businesses.
Barentz Announces North American Leadership Transition
Barentz has announced a planned leadership transition in its North America business. Mike McKenna, who previously served as president and COO North America, will become CEO North America. Terry Hill, former CEO, will join the company’s supervisory board. These appointments are effective as of March 1.
McKenna joined Barentz via a predecessor company, Maroon Group, in 2004. During his tenure, he held various leadership roles, led multiple facets of the business, and served as a member of Barentz’ global management board.
Hill joined Barentz via Maroon Group in 2019 as CEO North America and global management board member. During his tenure, the North American business significantly expanded in key markets and geographies and established a foundation for sustained long-term growth, according to the company. He has more than 35 years of international leadership experience in roles with Univar and has also served on multiple industry boards.
“Mike’s appointment and this transition are part of a thoughtful plan that Terry and the board have been engaged in for the last couple of years,” said Hidde van der Wal, CEO of Barentz. “We are confident Mike is the right person to fulfill this role. He is an inspiring and energetic leader who has shown an ability to build and motivate teams to deliver consistent growth.”
“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Terry for his leadership and vision during the last several years. We look forward to his continued contribution on the supervisory board as we support the organization in becoming the market leading global life science and ingredient distributor. Terry has a real passion for leadership development, strategy, and culture, which will be a great asset for our global team,” said Juergen Steinemann, chairman of Barentz’ supervisory board.
Gema Adds Service Employees
Gema USA Inc., a supplier of powder coatings, has announced that the following people will join its North American service team.
Jerry Croy, who is new to the company, and Jacob Argyelan, who transitioned from the operations team, will now be on the service team as ServiceNet technicians. They will be responsible for supervising installations and providing service for Gema customers throughout North America.
BASF Appoints Stephan Kothrade to Board
The supervisory board of BASF SE has appointed Stephan Kothrade, Ph.D., president, Intermediates, as a member of the board of executive directors, effective March 1. He will replace Saori Dubourg, who left the company in February in best mutual agreement.
Kothrade has been with BASF since 1995 and has led BASF’s Intermediates division since 2022.
“Stephan Kothrade has proven himself in several leadership roles in Germany and abroad. He has worked successfully for many years at our Verbund sites in Europe and Asia and will complement the board of executive directors in an excellent way,” said Kurt Bock, Ph.D., chairman of the supervisory board of BASF SE.
In other BASF news, Christian-Matthias Jutzi, senior vice president of Mobile Emissions Catalysts in Iselin, NJ, has been appointed president of the division of corporate finance in Ludwigshafen, Germany, effective May 1. He succeeds Dirk Elvermann, Ph.D., who was appointed as CFO and chief digital officer by the supervisory board as published in October 2022.