Holcomb to Brenntag
Distribution giant Univar Solutions has named James B . Holcomb , formerly COO of Brenntag North America , as president of North America chemical distribution . His first priority , the firm said , “ will be growing sales in North America in relation to nonspecialty products and otherwise optimising the effectiveness of our North American sales force ”.
Van Jarwaarde leads the change
Brenntag has named Ewout van Jarwaarde , hitherto CEO of CarNext . com , a marketplace for used cars , to the new position of chief transformation officer . He will head the ‘ Project Brenntag ’ programme , including digital and data-driven business , and developing the group-wide IT and indirect procurement functions .
Ott takes the chair
At its virtual AGM in December , US trade association SOCMA elected Mike Ott , President & CEO of Polysciences , to serve a two-year term as chairman . Among others newly appointed to the executive committee were Kate Donahue of Hampford Research as first vice-chair and Chuck Hinton of Ethox Chemicals as second vice-chair .
Clariant brings in Keijzer
Conrad Keijzer became CEO of Clariant on 1 January , with interim CEO Hariolf Kottmann returning to his position as chairman of the board . Keiijzer previously spent 24 years with AkzoNobel , rising to be CEO of the Performance Coatings division before moving to be CEO of Imerys , the French supplier of minerals .
Changes at top for AGC
Japan ’ s AGC has seen multiple personnel changes at senior management level with effect from 1 January . Among these , Takuya Shimamura has become chairman , while CTO Yoshinori Hirai replaces him as CEO and president . Hirai has been with the firm since 2005 in various senior positions .
Three join Venator board
Barry Siadat , cofounder of SK Capital Partners , has been named chairman of the board at TiO 2 producer Venator Materials , following the completion of SK ’ s acquisition of the firm . Also joining the board are Aaron Davenport , managing director of SK , and Heike van de Kerkhof , CEO of Archroma Management .
Ecolab promotes Beck
COO Christophe Beck has succeeded Douglas Baker as CEO of Ecolab from 1 January . Baker , who described Beck as “ a great leader and a great partner in advancing and building Ecolab ’ s strategy and business ”, will continue as board chairman . Beck has been with the company since 2007 .
New roles for Maas-Brunner
BASF has appointed Dr Melanie Maas-Brunner to the executive board from 1 February . Maas-Brunner has been with the firm since 1997 and has headed the Nutrition & Health division since 2017 . She will have responsibility for the three research divisions and BASF New Business , while also succeeding Dr Martin Brudermüller as chief technology officer .
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