Leadership & People 2009

• DSM appoints new Chief Purchasing Officer
  Royal DSM N.V. announced the following management changes:
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• Chemtura Names Chet H. Cross Executive Vice President and Group President, Engineered Products
  Chemtura Corporation, debtor-in-possession announced that Chet H. Cross has been appointed as executive vice president and group president, Engineered Products, effective Jan. 5, 2010. 
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• LANXESS streamlines global production network
  LANXESS AG has taken further steps to streamline its global production network and thus reduce operating costs in the face of the economic crisis and competitive business environment.
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• O-I Announces New Treasurer
  Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) announces that Catherine Neel has been named vice president and treasurer.
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• Tronox Will Go Ahead With Auction Amid Restructuring Negotiations
  Tronox says it will continue with plans to auction off substantially all of its assets in U.S. bankruptcy court.
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• Lenzing AG: Supervisory board extends mandate for Peter Untersperger until 31 March 2013
  Christian Reisinger will retire from the company at his own request on 31 March 2010.
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• Amcor announces management shake-up
  Packaging giant Amcor has announced a raft of management changes in anticipation of its $2bn takeover of Alcan.
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• Husky Energy Announces Expansion of Retail Network
  Husky Energy Inc. (TSX: HSE), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Suncor Energy Inc. and Suncor Energy Products Inc. to purchase 98 retail outlets in the Ontario market.
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• Symyx Appoints New President of High Productivity Research
  Symyx Technologies, Inc. has announced the appointment of John Senaldi as senior vice president of Symyx and president of its High Productivity Research (HPR) business unit.
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• Univar steps up business in the Middle East and Africa
  Univar is set to expand its business in the Middle East and Africa. With the opening shortly of the company’s new facility in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (pending final formalities), Univar aims at better serving existing and potential customers and suppliers in this dynamic growth region. 
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• Air Liquide: Changes in the management team from January 1, 2010
  The composition and responsibilities within the Air Liquide management team will be modified from January 1, 2010, Klaus Schmieder, Senior Executive Vice-President of Air Liquide, having decided to retire effective end of 2009. 
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• BASF starts up a new production facility for intermediates
  After a two-year construction phase, BASF today (November 30, 2009) started up a new plant complex for the production of the chemical intermediates cyclopentanone (CPon) and cyclododecanone (CDon) at its Ludwigshafen Verbund site.
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• ABB realigns automation divisions to enhance growth opportunities
  ABB is reorganizing its automation divisions to align their activities more closely with those of its customers.
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• Songwon appoints new Sales Director for the Middle East and Africa
  Songwon Industrial Co. Ltd. announces that Peter Fleming has been appointed Sales Director, Middle East and Africa. 
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• Gerd Löbbert joins Borealis Executive Board
  Borealis has announced the appointment of Gerd Löbbert as Executive Vice President for Base Chemicals, effective January 1, 2010. He will report to Chief Executive Mark Garrett and be based at the Borealis Head Office in Vienna, Austria.
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• Yara appoint new head of Industrial segment
  Mr. Bonte, a Belgian national, is currently employed in The Netherlands by the  Lyondellbasell group as Divisional Senior Vice President for their Polypropylene business.
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• Nampak boss plans to 'fix, sell or close' 20% of sites
  Nampak's new chief executive Andrew Marshall has said he will "fix, sell or close" one in five of the South African group's global operations as the group revealed a 61% drop in pre-tax profit.
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• BASF consolidates its European capacities for XSB paper coating binders
  BASF’s paper chemicals division will close production of XSB (carboxylated styrol butadiene) paper coating binders at its sites in Guturribay (Spain), Kaipiainen (Finland) and Ribécourt (France) by mid-2010.
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• Borealis inaugurates international Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Austria
  On November 20, 2009, Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, will inaugurate its international Innovation Headquarters in Linz, Austria.
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• ThyssenKrupp: Hans Fischer new Chairman of the Management Board of the Steel Americas business area
  Hans Fischer (53), currently a member of the executive board of Salzgitter AG, will become Chairman of the Management Board of the Steel Americas business area effective February 1, 2010.
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• UPDATE: Clariant To Cut Jobs In Plant Closures, More To Come
  Clariant AG (CLN.VX) Thursday said 570 production jobs will be cut as part of the Swiss chemicals company's latest restructuring program and that further cost-cutting steps are expected to follow.
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• Zeachem Moves Into Plastics, Breaks Ground on Prototype Plant
  Zeachem, which has devised a somewhat unusual technique for converting wood scraps and cellulosic material into fuel and other substances, has tinkered with the genome of its organisms to crank out a chemical that's a precursor to propylene, a major ingredient in packaging and plastics.
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• Rexam Confident of Meeting FY View, Appoints CEO
  Rexam, the world's biggest drinks can maker, said on Friday it was confident of meeting market expectations for the full-year after cost reductions and currency translation gains offset weak sales.
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• NOVA Chemicals Announces New Board of Directors
  NOVA Chemicals today announced the membership of its new Board of Directors, including the appointment of Dr. Gerhard Roiss as Chairman of the Board and Mohamed Al Mehairi as Vice Chairman.
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• Edward P. Campbell Joins Lubrizol Board of Directors
  The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) announces today that Edward P. Campbell, 59, has been appointed to its board of directors.
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• Ethylene XXI Partners Detail Plans for $2.5 Billion Investment in Mexico
  Partners in the ethylene and derivatives project slated for Mexico’s Gulf Coast, Ethylene XXI, say they plan to build three polyethylene units adjacent to the 1million m.t./year cracker.
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• SIMONA confirms closure of Würdinghausen site
  SIMONA AG has reached a decision to close its Würdinghausen production facility at the earliest possible date due to significant losses incurred by the plant.
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• Munich-based chemical company WACKER is strengthening its presence in India by opening a technical center in Mumbai
  The Munich-based chemical company WACKER is strengthening its presence in India by opening a technical center in Mumbai.
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• FMC Corporation Names Pierre Brondeau President and Chief Executive Officer
  FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) today announced that Pierre Brondeau has been named President and Chief Executive Officer succeeding William G. Walter, effective January 1, 2010.
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• BASF to realign fuel cell business
  BASF is realigning its business for the fuel cell market. In the future, competencies for the production of high-temperature membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) will be concentrated in Somerset, New Jersey.
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• Georg Fischer opens factory in India
  GF Piping Systems, a Corporate Group of Georg Fischer AG, today inaugurated its new production facility in Ratnagiri, India.
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• Merszei Named President of Dow Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Chairman of Dow Europe
  In an effort to further strengthen its geographic presence and connection with key markets and customers, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) announced today that Geoffery E. Merszei, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will move to a new role as President of Dow Europe, Middle East and Africa, while also serving as Chairman of Dow Europe, and Executive Vice President of The Dow Chemical Company, reporting to Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
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• Dow Names Davis Vice President of Global Public Affairs Midland, MI - October 29, 2009
  The Dow Chemical Company announced today that Matt Davis has been named Vice President of Global Public Affairs.
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• Tikkurila's organisation changes: New business units and management appointments
  Tikkurila will change its organization as of January 1, 2010 to reflect the geographical division. The four new strategic business units are East, Finland, Scandinavia and Central Eastern Europe.
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• DuPont’s Board of Directors Appoints Ellen Kullman Chair
  DuPont today announced that its board of directors has elected Chief Executive Officer Ellen Kullman, 53, Chair effective Dec. 31. Charles O. Holliday, Jr., 61, Chair, will retire from the board after 11 years as its chairman.
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• Personal Changes at BASF
  The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE has announced the following changes in the company’s leadership team: 
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• DSM announces retirement of Managing Board member Jan Zuidam
  Royal DSM N.V. announced that Jan Zuidam, Deputy Chairman of the Managing Board of Directors of DSM, will retire on 1 January 2010, after 36 years of service with DSM, of which he served 12 years as member of DSM's Managing Board.
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• Ashland Inc. names Gregg vice president, tax
  Scott A. Gregg will join Ashland Inc. effective Nov. 16 as vice president, tax. The announcement was made by Lamar M. Chambers, senior vice president and chief financial officer, to whom Gregg will report.
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• Dow Corning plans $1 billion Mideast plant
  U.S.-based Dow Corning plans to build a new silicone manufacturing plant in the Middle East, its fourth worldwide, with a value that will exceed $1 billion, an executive told Reuters on Monday.
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• PPG appoints Beuke vice president, silica products
  PPG Industries announced Richard A. Beuke has been appointed vice president, silica products, effective Nov. 1.
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• Aceto Announces Management Realignment
  Aceto Corporation (Nasdaq:ACET), a global leader in the sourcing, quality assurance, regulatory support, marketing and distribution of chemically derived pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals and crop protection products, today announced that Chairman and CEO Leonard S.
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• Univar Names President and Chief Executive Officer
  Univar, a global leader specializing in the sales, marketing, application and safe, efficient handling of a wide range of chemicals and ingredients, today announced the appointment of John J. Zillmer as president and chief executive officer. 
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• Debra Reed Elected to Avery Dennison Board of Directors
  Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY) today announced that its board of directors has elected Debra L. Reed a director of the Company, effective October 22, 2009.
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• Silicon-based Materials Leader Dow Corning Establishes Middle-East Operations
  Dow Corning, one of the world's largest silicon- based materials developers and manufacturers, has established a Middle East headquarters and commercial entity in Manama, Bahrain.
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• BASF announces its intention to cease activities in Feluy, Belgium
  BASF Antwerpen N.V. today announced its intention to close its 115,000 annual tons maleic anhydride (MA) production facility by the end of 2009 and to withdraw all BASF activities from its site in Feluy, Belgium.
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• Barry W. Perry to Join Albemarle's Board of Directors
  Albemarle Corporation announced that Barry W. Perry will join its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2010.
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• Randy G. Woelfel To Become New NOVA Chemicals CEO
  NOVA Chemicals today announced that Randy Woelfel has joined the company and will become its Chief Executive Officer.  Woelfel will replace Christopher D. Pappas who earlier announced his retirement.
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• Appointments in Tikkurila Group's HR function
  Päivi Luomahaara, M.Sc., Chemical Engineering, has been appointed Compensation & Benefits Manager, Tikkurila Group HR, as from September 21, 2009.
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• Lundbeck appoints new Vice President for finished goods
  H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) has appointed Bo Hilligsøe as its new Vice President for the Group's finished goods production, which takes places at Lundbeck's headquarters in Copenhagen, at the company's newly acquired factory in France and at its packing facility in Mexico.
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• CPhI: Saltigo Develops Generic Pharmaceuticals Strategy
  Saltigo, the custom synthesis and manufacturing services subsidiary of Lanxess, says the business is trying to develop strategies for manufacturing generic drugs for its pharma customers.
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• Kenneth Sundberg to lead Tikkurila’s R&D
  Kenneth Sundberg, Doctor of Technology, has been appointed Tikkurila’s Group Vice President, Research and Development as from January 1, 2010. Based in Vantaa, he will report to Erkki Järvinen, President and CEO, Tikkurila Oy.
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• Anna-Lena Högfeldt to lead Tikkurila’s Marketing and Brand Management
  Anna-Lena Högfeldt has been appointed Group Vice President, Tikkurila Marketing and Brand Management, as from October 15, 2009. Based in Stockholm, she will report to Erkki Järvinen, President and CEO of Tikkurila Oy.
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• INEOS Compounds announces process to consolidate its European manufacturing operations
  INEOS Compounds has announced the start of a process to consolidate its European production network with the aim of further strengthening the Company’s position as Europe's leading PVC compounder. 
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• Bayer MaterialScience ends reduced working hours at German sites
  Effective November 1 this year, the Bayer subgroup MaterialScience (BMS) will be reverting to the standard collectively agreed work week of 37.5 hours at its German sites.
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• Ferro Announces Streamlined Business Structure
  Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE) announced today a new, streamlined business structure designed to drive product development, customer engagement and growth.
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• Clariant Closes Two Plants in North America
  Clariant says it will close its Milford, DE and Lachine, PQ masterbatches facilities and transfer production to more modernized sites at Albion, MI and Toronto, respectively.
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• Mondi: Board Changes
  The Boards of Mondi Limited and Mondi plc announce that further to their announcement on 10 July, Sir John Parker will be succeeded as Joint Chairman by David Williams with immediate effect.
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• Arto Lehtinen to lead Tikkurila Deco Finland as from January 1, 2010
  Arto Lehtinen, Vice President, Marketing, at Tikkurila Oy has been appointed President, Tikkurila Deco Finland, as from January 1, 2010.
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• John Watson Named Chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation
  The board of directors of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) today elected John S. Watson, 52, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the company, effective Dec. 31, 2009.
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• Veolia to separate CEO, chairman roles - source
  French waste and water group Veolia Environnement (VIE.PA) will separate the roles of chairman and chief executive as an interim step before putting in place separate supervisory and executive boards, a source close to the board of directors told Reuters.
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• Mondi invests in German efficiency
  Mondi Corrugated Packaging has invested more than EUR 5m in modernising its Bad Rappenau and Eschenback plants in Germany in a bid to improve efficiency.
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• Sika: structural adjustments to increase efficiency
  Sika Group structurally adapts its manufacturing footprint for sealants and adhesives as well as for membranes due to new production technologies and continued changes in market conditions.
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• New Cefic Director General appointed
  The Board of Cefic gave approval to the appointment of Dr. Hubert Mandery as Cefic Director General Designate in succession to Alain Perroy on his retirement on 31 October 2009.
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• Wacker Exits Solar Silicon Wafer Business
  Wacker Chemie says that it has reached an agreement with Schott Solar (Alzenau, Germany), its joint venture parter in the equally owned joint venture Wacker Schott Solar (WSS; Jena, Germany), to transfer its share to its partner.
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• Air Products Announces Executive Changes
  Air Products has made the following executive changes, effective October 2009
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• BASF Expects Asia/Pacific Sales to Double by 2020; to Invest €2 Billion
  BASF says that the company aims to invest €2 billion ($2.9 billion) between 2009 and 2013 in the Asia/Pacific region, and to double the company’s sales in the region by 2020.
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• Veolia board meets to designate new head
  The supervisory board of French waste, water and transport firm Veolia Environnement (VIE.PA) was meeting on Monday to designate a successor to executive chairman Henri Proglio who is moving to power firm EDF (EDF.PA).
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• Dow Strengthens Its Global Presence in the Textile, Nonwovens and Graphic Arts Industries
  Dow Adhesives and Functional Polymers, a division of The Dow Chemical Company, signals its commitment to the Textile, Nonwovens and Graphic Arts industries by implementing a new Global Management structure. 
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• Krahn Chemie expands its market presence in Poland
  The foundation of its own subsidiary in Poland is another milestone in the growth strategy of chemicals distributor Krahn Chemie GmbH.
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• UPDATE 1-France names Proglio new head at power group EDF
  The French President will appoint Veolia (VIE.PA) Chief Executive Henri Proglio as the new head of state-controlled power group EDF (EDF.PA), the world's biggest nuclear operator, the Prime Minister's office said on Sunday.
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• Veolia CEO Proglio says not seeking new position
  Henri Proglio, current head of water utility Veolia Environnement (VIE.PA) and tipped for the top job at French state-owned power group EDF (EDF.PA), said on Thursday he was not seeking a new position.
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• Mink Named President & CEO of ANGUS Chemical Company
  Kim Ann Mink, Ph.D., has been elected president and CEO of ANGUS Chemical Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company; president of CanStates Holdings Inc., the immediate parent of ANGUS, and a member of the ANGUS Chemie GmbH Advisory Board, effective August 1, 2009.
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• COO of Arch Chemicals Resigns
  Arch Chemicals says that Louis Massimo, its executive v.p. and COO, will leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Arch will reassign Massimo’s responsibilities within its senior management team under changes that will be announced shortly.
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• Mead Johnson Announces Powder Packaging Expansion
  Mead Johnson & Company announced today that it has selected Evansville as the site of a $32.8 million powder blending and packaging facility.
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• Dow Names Wildi Vice President of Corporate Development in Kuwait
  The Dow Chemical Company announced today that Markus Wildi, formerly President of Dow Europe, has been named to the newly created role of Vice President of Corporate Development in Kuwait.
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• Evonik denies report about planned breakup
  Germany's Evonik [EVON.UL] [RAGED.UL], a chemicals, real estate and power production group, denied on Saturday a magazine report about a possible break-up of the company.
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• Bayer CropScience Plans Major Investment in Seeds and Traits
  Bayer CropScience plans to invest €3.5 billion by 2018 in research and infrastructure for its biotechnology and seeds business.
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• MY Healthcare name disappears as Nampak rejigs operations
  One of carton manufacturing's best-known names, MY Healthcare, is to disappear from the industry this autumn when it is rebranded Nampak Healthcare.
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• LyondellBasell to Close LDPE Unit at Carrington, U.K.
  LyondellBasell Industries announced today that it will close the low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant located at its Carrington, U.K., site by the end of this year.
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• BASF styrenics restructuring makes progress
  BASF is progressing with steps to restructure its styrenics business and has made another divestiture in its styrene value chain.
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• Brenntag names Holland Chief Operating Officer
  Brenntag announced that Steve Holland has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer Brenntag Group effective October 1, 2009.
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• US Lyondell will rely on stock offering to leave bankruptcy
  Lyondell Chemical will once again become a public company with shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange under its plan to emerge from bankruptcy protection, the company said on Monday.
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• NOVA Chemicals announces retirement of CEO Chris Pappas and appointment of Todd Karran as CFO
  NOVA Chemicals today announced that Christopher D. (Chris) Pappas, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has elected to retire effective December 31, 2009.
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• BASF restructures polyamide 6 production in Europe
  BASF is restructuring its production of polyamide 6 in Europe. In the future, production will be bundled at BASF’s two Verbund sites in Antwerp, Belgium, and Ludwigshafen, Germany
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• Restructuring hits Georg Fischer subsidiary
  The Georg Fischer industrial concern of Schaffhausen says 281 jobs are to be lost in Switzerland at its subsidiary AgieCharmilles, which makes machine tools.
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• BASF to Close Permanently Nylon-6 Plant in Germany
  BASF says it will restructure its nylon-6 production activities in Europe, which will involve the permanent closure of a plant at Rudolstadt in the German state of Thuringia at the end of 2010.
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• Huntsman to Close Australian Styrenics Operations
  Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) today announced it has completed an internal review of the styrenics operations owned by Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd., located at West Footscray, Australia, and has decided to close the facility.
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• O-I Closes Karhula, Finland, Plant
  As a result of the company's ongoing review of its global manufacturing footprint, Owens-Illinois, Inc., (NYSE: OI) has concluded a process of consultation with local union representatives and has closed its glass container plant in Karhula, Finland
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• Arkema proposes reorganization of Saint-Auban industrial site
  Arkema France presented to an extraordinary meeting of the Central Works Council a project for the proposed reorganization of the Saint-Auban site (France / Alpes de Haute-Provence) entailing the shutdown of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer production and a recentering on the site’s other activities by adapting its organization to its new industrial scope. 
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• PPG to appoint Robert J. Dellinger as senior vice president, finance, and CFO
  PPG Industries announced that Robert J. Dellinger would be joining the company as senior vice president, finance, and chief financial officer designate, effective Sept. 8, 2009.
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• SiVance LLC Formed To Provide Custom Synthesis and Performance Chemical Products to Global Manufacturing Industries
  GenNx360 Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on industrial business-to-business companies, announced that it has acquired the Specialty Silicones business of Clariant. The new Gainesville, Florida-based business will be known as SiVance LLC.
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• Larox to Establish a Subsidiary in India
  Larox will establish a subsidiary in India with the aim of increasing the company's market share in the growing Indian market. The new subsidiary will be responsible both for Larox's aftermarket services and filter sales development. 
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• Lyondell changes plans, keeps Chocolate Bayou HDPE unit open
  Lyondell Chemical will keep its high-density polyethylene (HDPE) unit open at its Chocolate Bayou site in Texas, reversing an earlier decision to shut down and dismantle the plant, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
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• Simo Laitala to lead Tikkurila in Russia
  Simo Laitala has been appointed Managing Director of OOO Tikkurila as from October 1, 2009.
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• Chevron Phillips Chemical Names New General Counsel
  Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP named Tim Hill as the company’s senior vice president, legal and public affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary.
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• Mondi Packaging announces 28 redundancies
  A total of 28 jobs have been made redundant at Mondi Packaging Bux, a matter of months after the firm committed to the future of the Norfolk site.
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• Dow Corning announces personnel updates to its global pressure sensitive industry team
  Dow Corning Corporation has announced the following personnel updates to its global pressure sensitive industry team.
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• Cognis appoints new CFO: Klaus Edelmann to be succeeded by Marco Panichi
  Klaus Edelmann will leave the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Management Board of specialty chemicals supplier Cognis on October 1, 2009, and become a member of the supervisory board.
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• Dow AgroSciences Rounds Out Executive Leadership Team
  Dow AgroSciences announces two key executive management leadership appointments to round out the staff of Antonio Galindez, who was recently named president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences.
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• A. Schulman Appoints Dennis Smith Director of New Business Applications
  A. Schulman, Inc. announced that Dennis Smith has been appointed to the newly created position of Director of New Business Applications. 
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• Clariant and Huntsman restructure textile businesses
  AMID THE global recession and ever-growing competition from Asia, US and Europe-based textile chemical producers are restructuring and slashing costs.
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• LANXESS Executive Appointed As Chairman of German Rubber Society
  Juergen Gunther from LANXESS is head of Deutsche Kautschuk Juergen Gunther (52), an employee of specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG, has been appointed as Chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Kautschuk Gesellschaft (DKG – the German Rubber Society) and will hold this post until 2012.
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• EuroChem Outlines Investment Plans; Signs Deal with Development Bank
  EuroChem Minerals and Chemicals Co. (EuroChem; Moscow), Russia's leading producer of fertilizers and Europe's third largest player, has outlined an investment strategy and plans to enter the potash fertilizer market.
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• Lyondell exits direct de-icer sales, will act as supplier
  Lyondell Chemical will no longer be a direct seller in the aircraft de-icer market and instead supply the market with propylene glycol (PG), the primary component of de-icers, the producer announced on Friday.
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• E.T. Horn Appoints Parry Foskett to Vice President of its Advanced Materials Group
  The E.T. Horn Company, a distributor, supplier, marketer, and manufacturer of specialty chemicals, announced that Parry Foskett, an industry veteran and longtime company executive, has been promoted to be vice president of the company’s Advanced Materials Group. 
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• A. Schulman Appoints Ronald L. Wells to Lead Its North America Resin Distribution Business
  A. Schulman, Inc. announced that Ronald L. Wells has been named General Manager – North America Resin Distribution, effective September 1, 2009.
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• DuPont Spending $120 Million on Photovoltaic Backsheet Materials Production
  DuPont says it will invest $120 million to increase its production capacity for the monomer and resins used to produce Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) films, a key component of photovoltaic backsheets, by over 50%.
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• Dow Unveils Dow Coatings Materials Following Acquisition of Rohm & Haas
  The Dow Chemical CompanyThe Dow Chemical Company, a leading science and technology company, today unveiled the newly-formed Dow Coatings Materials.
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• Sasol Initiates Consultation Ahead of Possible Plant Closure
  Sasol announced the initiation of consultations with various stakeholders ahead of a possible closure of Sasol Nitro's phosphoric acid operations in Phalaborwa. 
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• CEO to transform Univar Europe
  JOHN VAN Osch is a man with a mission. Appointed president of Univar Europe, Middle East and Africa on January 1 this year, he aims to transform the chemical distribution company that has over 50 sites throughout Europe.
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• Poor Profitability Forces Sasol to Consider Closure of Phosphoric Acid Plant in South Africa
  Sasol says it has initiated consultations with various stakeholders ahead of a possible closure of Sasol Nitro division’s phosphoric acid plant at Phalaborwa, South Africa.
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• Grace Opens New Facility in India
  W. R. Grace & Co. has opened a new manufacturing facility in Chennai, India for the production of specialty chemicals used in commercial, infrastructure and residential construction.
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• Nampak Plastics cuts 80 jobs after collapse of Dairy Farmers
  Milk bottle producer Nampak Plastics Europe has announced plans to make 80 redundancies at its Newport Pagnell facility following the collapse of client Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB).
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• DuPont Combines Businesses, COO to Retire
  DuPont says it will streamline operations, combining its 23 businesses into 14 units, and will eliminate five group v.p. positions.
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• LyondellBasell Names Craig Glidden as Chief Legal Officer
  LyondellBasell today announced that Craig Glidden has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, effective August 15. He will be based in Houston.
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• Mondi: Board Changes
  The Boards of Mondi Limited and Mondi plc announce that further to their announcement on 10 July, Sir John Parker will be succeeded as Joint Chairman by David Williams with immediate effect.
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• Univar appoints Nick Powell as General Manager
  Antwerp, Belgium – 3rd August 2009 – Univar, a leading European company specialising in the sales, marketing, application and safe, efficient handling of a wide range of chemicals and ingredients, announced today the appointment of Nick Powell as General Manager, Middle East & Africa, effective 1st September 2009.
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• Fluorotechnics appoints European biotech veteran Lars Utterman as non-executive director
  Fluorotechnics Limited has appointed Lars Utterman as a non-executive director. Mr Utterman has over 30 years sales and general management experience with biotechnology companies.
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• LANXESS - Markus Eckert succeeds Bernhard Wehling
  Dr. Markus Eckert (38) will assume global responsibility for the leather chemicals business of specialty chemicals group LANXESS.
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• Nampak appoints new finance chief
  JSE-listed packaging firm Nampak has named a former South African Airways (SAA) CFO as its new finance chief, the company announced on Thursday.
  read more >>
  
  
• Jacques Maigné appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hutchinson
  Jacques Maigné, 54, appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hutchinson succeeding Pierre-Christian Clout. 
  read more >>
  
  
• R. Hewitt Pate Named Vice President and General Counsel for Chevron
  Chevron Corporation announced the appointment of R. Hewitt Pate as vice president and general counsel. Pate, 47, will report to Chevron's current general counsel, Charles A. James, who was named executive vice president earlier this year. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Arkema invests in Specialty Acrylic Polymer production in China through its subsidiary Coatex
  In order to sustain the growth of the specialty acrylic polymer market in Asia, Arkema announces the construction of a production plant at its Changshu site (China).
  read more >>
  
  
• AkzoNobel appoints new Corporate Director Control
  Hans de Vriese has been appointed as AkzoNobel's new Corporate Director Control. He will take up the position on September 1, 2009.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dow Corning Names Global Marketing Manager for Solar Business
  Dow Corning has named Rainer Spielberg as Global Marketing Manager for its Solar Market Business Unit, which provides silicon-based solutions throughout the entire photovoltaic value chain and to the concentrated solar power (CSP) market.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dow Announces Leadership Transitions at Dow Advanced Materials and Dow AgroSciences
  The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced that Pierre Brondeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dow Advanced Materials, has decided to retire.
  read more >>
  
  
• Afton Chemical Makes Strategic Investment in Asia Pacific Manufacturing Facility
  Afton Chemical Corporation announces the new investment in an Asia Pacific manufacturing facility to better service our customers in the region.
  read more >>
  
  
• Patrice de Viviès Appointed Senior Vice President, Northern Europe, Total Exploration & Production
  Effective July 9, Patrice de Viviès has been appointed Senior Vice President, Northern Europe, Total Exploration & Production, succeeding Michel Contie.
  read more >>
  
  
• LyondellBasell Names Kent Potter as CFO
  LyondellBasell Industries today announced that its Supervisory Board has named Kent Potter as Chief Financial Officer, effective August 1. Potter will succeed Alan Bigman who will be offered an opportunity to continue assisting in the company's Chapter 11 restructuring activities.
  read more >>
  
  
• Veolia Environmental Services Names New CEO to Solid Waste Division
  Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. has appointed Jim Long to the position of president and CEO of that organization. He replaces former CEO Richard Burke, who was recently promoted to president and CEO of Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp. (VESNA).
  read more >>
  
  
• Univar Europe strengthens leadership team across the region
  Antwerp, Belgium – 14th July 2009 – Univar, a leading European company specialising in the sales, marketing, application and safe, efficient handling of a wide range of chemicals and ingredients, announced a number of new appointments, both on country / regional level as well as on a functional level and as such strengthening its European leadership team across the region.
  read more >>
  
  
• Corporate Director Control to leave AkzoNobel
  AkzoNobel announces that Martin Potter, Corporate Director Control, will leave AkzoNobel at the end of September this year.
  read more >>
  
  
• Air Products Posts Rise in Net Income, Cuts Workforce by 5%
  Air Products reported net income up 61%, to $113.2 million, in its fiscal third quarter ended June 30. The year-ago quarter included a $237-million impairment charge for the sale of its U.S. health care business.
  read more >>
  
  
• PPG announces two corporate appointments
  PPG Industries has announced the following corporate appointments:
  read more >>
  
  
• Total: Bertrand de La Noue is appointed Vice-President, Investor Relations
  Effective July 16, 2009, Bertrand de La Noue is appointed Vice-President, Investor Relations, succeeding Jérôme Schmitt.
  read more >>
  
  
• LANXESS manager Juergen Gunther to head DKG
  Juergen Gunther (52), an employee of specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG, has been chosen as the new Management Board Chairman of Deutsche Kautschuk Gesellschaft (DKG – the German Rubber Society).
  read more >>
  
  
• Univar Europe strengthens leadership team across the region
  Univar announced a number of new appointments, both on country / regional level as well as on a functional level and as such strengthening its European leadership team across the region. 
  read more >>
  
  
• AkzoNobel to appoint new General Counsel
  AkzoNobel has announced that Jan Karel van der Staay, General Counsel, will leave the company at the end of the year and will be succeeded by Sven Dumoulin, currently Group Secretary of Unilever.
  read more >>
  
  
• O-I Announces New Managing Director of China
  Owens-Illinois, Inc., (NYSE: OI) has selected Paul Wang to serve as the company's managing director in China.
  read more >>
  
  
• Air Liquide - Saudi Arabia: acquisition of 75% of Al Khafrah Industrial Gases
  Air Liquide has just completed the acquisition of Al Khafrah Industrial Gases, a company headquartered in Riyadh with operations in both Riyadh and Dammam.
  read more >>
  
  
• Mondi suspends machine, 240 jobs at risk
  Mondi Ltd (MNDJ.J) (MNDI.L), the biggest producer of office paper in Europe, said it would mothball its PM32 paper machine in South Africa, cutting annual production by 120,000 tonnes.
  read more >>
  
  
• Jean-François Chesneau appointed Vice President Raw materials purchasing at Arkema
  Effective July 1st 2009 Jean-Francois Chesneau is being appointed Vice President Raw materials purchasing for the Arkema Group. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Wacker Chemie Restructures Siltronic and Silicones; Cuts Jobs
  Wacker Chemie has embarked on a site optimization program at its Wacker Siltronic silicon wafers manufacturing subsidiary, which aims to consolidate production according to the wafers' diameters.
  read more >>
  
  
• UPDATE 1-Croda to shut Wilton manufacturing site
  Britain's Croda (CRDA.L) is to close its Wilton manufacturing site in North East England following a decision by Dow Chemical (DOW.N) to close an adjoining facility which produced a key raw material.
  read more >>
  
  
• ALTANA: Supervisory Board reappoints Dr. Matthias L. Wolfgruber as Chief Executive Officer
  The Supervisory Board of the specialty chemicals Group ALTANA AG has extended the appointment of Dr. Matthias L. Wolfgruber (55) as Chief Executive Officer ahead of schedule.
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF Announces Major Cost Reductions Following Acquisition of Ciba
  BASF says that the integration of the former Ciba Specialty Chemicals will generate synergies leading to annualized cost reductions of at least €400 million from 2012.
  read more >>
  
  
• Sophie Fouillat new Arkema Vice President Investor Relations
  On September 1st 2009, Sophie Fouillat will be appointed Arkema Vice President Investor Relations, in charge of relations with analysts, investors and individual shareholders.
  read more >>
  
  
• Brenntag establishes new sales region in Germany
  Brenntag has established a new sales region in Southern Germany located in Nuremberg, Bavaria. 
  read more >>
  
  
• LANXESS Appoints Peter Weinmar as Country Representative of Japan, Head of Japan/South Korea Region
  German specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG has appointed Peter Weinmar (48) as the Country Representative and President and CEO of LANXESS K.K.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dow to shut down a number of manufacturing assets
  Dow Chemical Co. said Wednesday it would shut down "a number" of manufacturing plants to help achieve $1.3 billion in cost cutting related to its acquisition of Rohm & Haas Co.
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF reorganizes its Petrochemicals Division
  BASF reorganizes its Petrochemicals division effective July 1, 2009. The future organization consists of four (formerly six) business units.
  read more >>
  
  
• LANXESS: Production in Singapore to start in 2014
  Due to the continuing global economic crisis, specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG is postponing the construction of its new butyl rubber facility in Singapore. Production is now scheduled to start in 2014.
  read more >>
  
  
• BP Selects New Chairman to Succeed Peter Sutherland
  BP announced that it has appointed Carl-Henric Svanberg, currently chief executive officer of the Swedish telecommunications company, Ericsson, to replace Peter Sutherland as chairman of BP. 
  read more >>
  
  
• DSM appoints Executive Vice President DSM Expert Center
  Royal DSM N.V. announces the following management appointment: 
  read more >>
  
  
• Lubrizol Names C. Lawrence Miller Corporate Vice President of Human Resources
  The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) today announces C. Lawrence Miller, 52, has been elected corporate vice president of human resources, replacing Mark W. Meister, who at age 55 is retiring effective September 30, 2009. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Steelmaker Corus to cut nearly 2,000 British jobs
  Europe's second largest steelmaker Corus said on Thursday it was planning to cut a further 1,922 jobs in Britain's industrial heartlands, alongside axing another 123 staff in the Netherlands.
  read more >>
  
  
• Liquidia Technologies Appoints Dr. Thomas Templeman, Senior Vice President
  Liquidia Technologies Inc. announced it has appointed Dr. Thomas Templeman as the company’s Senior Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain. Liquidia is a leader in the development of rationally designed nanoparticles for delivery of small molecule and biological agents to enable breakthroughs in vaccines, inhaled therapeutics, and siRNA-based therapeutics.
  read more >>
  
  
• nanoTox Appoints Gov. George Allen to Board of Directors
  nanoTox, a company to provide complete risk assessment exclusively for nanoparticles, announced that Governor George Allen of Virginia has joined the board of its parent company, Nano Risk Assessment, Inc. An early supporter of nanotechnology initiatives, Gov. Allen served the Commonwealth of Virginia for more than 20 years as Governor, as U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative, and as a delegate holding Thomas Jefferson’s seat in the Virginia General Assembly.
  read more >>
  
  
• Symrise: Heinz-Jürgen Bertram appointed as Chief Executive Officer
  Heinz-Jürgen Bertram has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the flavors and fragrances manufacturer Symrise AG effective July 1st, 2009. The appointment was approved by the company’s Supervisory Board in Frankfurt am Main.
  read more >>
  
  
• New Managing Director for Filter Specialists International
  Markus Gruettner (41), will be new Managing Director of FSI Europe, effective June 1, 2009. He succeeds Mark Crittenden, who will leave the company to take up a new challenge externally. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Mondi commits to future of Bux corrugated site
  Mondi has ended weeks of speculation about the future of its Bux corrugated site by stating the site "remains an integral part of the business".
  read more >>
  
  
• Mondi expands Hungarian bag business
  UK-based packaging manufacturer Mondi is growing its business in Eastern Europe with the expansion of a reclosable bag plant in Békéscsaba, Hungary.
  read more >>
  
  
• AkzoNobel appoints Amit Jain as MD for its India operation
  Paint manufacturer AkzoNobel today said it has appointed Amit Jain as Managing Director for its operations in India and Sri Lanka. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Georg Fischer cuts 2,300 jobs
  Industrial concern Georg Fischer has announced it must cut 2,300 jobs over the next few months after a new round of debilitating losses in the first quarter of 2009.
  read more >>
  
  
• Yara with permanent NPK closure in Peremarton, Hungary
  Yara International ASA will permanently close its NPK plant in Peremarton, Hungary.
  read more >>
  
  
• Avery Dennison Corp. Names Group VP, Retail Information Services
  Avery Dennison Corp. announced that it has named R. Shawn Neville to the position of Group Vice President, Retail Information Services.
  read more >>
  
  
• Borouge to strategically invest in China and Middle East, expects high growth level in Asian market
  In spite of the current global downturn, Borouge -- a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Borealis--is continuing with its major investment plans in China, and elsewhere in the Middle East and Asia.
  read more >>
  
  
• Yara changes to the Executive Management Team
  Yara International ASA is introducing changes to the company's Executive Management Team through both an internal reshuffle and the hiring of new employees.
  read more >>
  
  
• Proposed appointment of Mr Marc Pandraud as Director of Arkema
  The Board of Directors of Arkema has decided to propose to the next Ordinary General Meeting on June 15th 2009 to appoint Mr Marc Pandraud as Director of the Company. 
  read more >>
  
  
• LyondellBasell Names Jim Gallogly as CEO
  LyondellBasell Industries announced that its Supervisory Board has named James L. (Jim) Gallogly chief executive officer, effective immediately.
  read more >>
  
  
• Cognis opens affiliate in India
  Cognis has opened an affiliate in Mumbai, India. As of today, Cognis India will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cognis Group, and will operate under the name of Cognis Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.
  read more >>
  
  
• AkzoNobel appoints new CIO
  Pieter Schoehuijs has been appointed as AkzoNobel’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO). He took up the position on May 1.
  read more >>
  
  
• Univar Appoints New Country Director - China
  Univar announced the appointment of Sandy Wilson as Country Director - Univar China effective August 1, 2009. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Michael F. Barry Elected as Chairman of the Board of Quaker Chemical Corporation
  Quaker Chemical Corporation (NYSE: KWR) today announced that Michael F. Barry, Chief Executive Officer and President, has been elected as Chairman of the Board, effective today.
  read more >>
  
  
• LyondellBasell Names Jim Gallogly as CEO
  LyondellBasell Industries today announced that its Supervisory Board has named James L. (Jim) Gallogly chief executive officer, effective immediately.
  read more >>
  
  
• Univar names Paul Henderson Country Leader Switzerland
  Univar announced the appointment of Paul Henderson as Country Leader Switzerland starting 11th May 2009. 
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF Short-Time Work For 1,000 Ludwigshafen Workers From June
  BASF SE (BAS.XE) said Thursday it is introducing short-time work in the coming months for about 1,000 employees in 20 production plants and associated service units at its site in Ludwigshafen.
  read more >>
  
  
• LANXESS India Expands Facilities At New Rubber Chemicals Technical Centre
  The specialty chemicals company LANXESS India Private Limited is expanding its services and facilities with the relocation of its Rubber Chemicals (RUC) Asia Pacific Technical Centre in Thane.
  read more >>
  
  
• Trevira: Restructuring has begun
  Trevira GmbH in Bobingen have initiated the reorganization of the company. The owner "Reliance Group" have appointed the restructuring expert Elke Bäuerle as Managing Director.
  read more >>
  
  
• Arkema Announces North American Job Cuts
  Arkema says it will reduced staff and implement cost-cutting and process improvement measures at several North American sites as part of a larger restructuring plan initiated in 2006.
  read more >>
  
  
• LyondellBasell ownership to change under new JV
  Access Industries said on Wednesday it has entered into an agreement with Germany’s ProChemie Holding to form a new joint venture that will own LyondellBasell.
  read more >>
  
  
• Evonik Trading President and CEO Pafferath quits
  Heiko Pafferath said he has resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of Germany's Evonik Trading, the coal and coke trading fully-owned subsidiary of Evonik Industries [RUHR.UL].
  read more >>
  
  
• DuPont Details Additional Restructuring, Takes Second Quarter Charge
  DuPont says it will cut another 2,000 jobs, and take a pre-tax charge of $340 million-$390 million in the second quarter, with about 40% of that in non-cash assets.
  read more >>
  
  
• Eggert Voscherau elected as new chairman of BASF SE Supervisory Board
  In its constitutive meeting, the new Supervisory Board of BASF SE has elected Eggert Voscherau (65) as its chairman.
  read more >>
  
  
• PerkinElmer Appoints Robert F. Friel As Chairman of the Board of Directors
  PerkinElmer, Inc. announced that its board of directors has appointed the Company’s president and chief executive officer, Robert F. Friel, to the additional role of chairman of the board of directors.
  read more >>
  
  
• Personnel changes at BASF
  BASF SE announced the following personnel changes:
  read more >>
  
  
• Avery Dennison Names John M. Sallay Senior Vice President, New Growth Platforms
  Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY) announced today that it has named John M. Sallay to the position of senior vice president, New Growth Platforms.
  read more >>
  
  
• SEPC Successfully Starts Up New Petrochemical Complex
  Saudi Ethylene and Polyethylene Company (SEPC) has successfully started up its Petrochemical Complex in Al-Jubail Industrial City, located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  read more >>
  
  
• Samuel W. Bodman Elected to DuPont Board of Directors
  DuPont (NYSE: DD) has announced that Samuel W. Bodman, former U.S. Secretary of Energy and former chairman and CEO of Cabot Corporation, was elected to its board of directors during the company's annual stockholders meeting.
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF Records Fall in First-Quarter Profits and Sales; To Cut 2000 Jobs
  BASF has reported a 68% fall in first-quarter net profits, to €375 million ($495 million), compared with the first quarter of 2008.
  read more >>
  
  
• Creation Of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Canada Inc.
  John Meunier Inc., a subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, is pleased to announce the creation of its subsidiary, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Canada Inc., based in Mississauga, Ontario.
  read more >>
  
  
• UPDATE 2-Elementis plant closure to "affect" 138 jobs
  British chemicals maker Elementis Plc (ELM.L) plans to close its Eaglescliffe, UK plant by June-end, a move that would affect about 9 percent of its total global work force.
  read more >>
  
  
• Veolia Transportation Names New Director of Safety, Training & Regulatory Compliance for Austin’s Capital MetroRail
  Veolia Transportation Services, Inc. announced that Randall “Randy” Jamieson has joined the company as its Director Safety, Training & Regulatory Compliance for Veolia Transportation –at Austin’s Capital MetroRail.
  read more >>
  
  
• Leena Lie appointed Vice President, Communications for Kemira
  M.Sc. (Econ.) Leena Lie (40) has been appointed Vice President, Communications of Kemira as of June 8, 2009.
  read more >>
  
  
• SMC appoints Diane Tramontana Product Manager, VOC Compliance Solvents
  Special Materials Company announce the appointment of Diane Tramontana as Product Manager, VOC Compliance Solvents.
  read more >>
  
  
• Univar: Pruitt to Retire as CEO
  Univar Chairman & CEO Gary Pruitt announced that he has decided to retire as chief executive officer. He will remain with Univar as chairman of the board following the transition to a new CEO. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Kemira: Tikkurila opens a logistics and customer service center in Mytishchi near Moscow
  Tikkurila, which is responsible for Kemira's paints and coatings business, is opening a new logistics and customer service center in Mytishchi near Moscow.
  read more >>
  
  
• Michael J. Graff and Mok Kwong Weng appointed to the Air Liquide Group Executive Committee
  Michael J. Graff and Mok Kwong Weng have been appointed to the Air Liquide Group Executive Committee, effective April 15.
  read more >>
  
  
• Veolia Environmental Services Announces Richard Burke as New North America CEO
  Veolia Environmental Services North America (VESNA) announces the appointment of Richard Burke to the position of CEO of the organization. He replaces former CEO Michel Gourvennec, who recently announced his retirement. Burke has served as president of Veolia ES Solid Waste since 2007.
  read more >>
  
  
• Jobs swap at Borealis as film and cable switch
  Borealis has made two changes to its polyolefins leadership team. Hans-Christian Ambjerg, the current vice-president of Borealis' wire and cable business unit, has become vice-president film and fibre from Marc Hubert. Hubert succeeds Ambjerg as vice-president wire and cable.
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF executives to take over Ciba CEO and CFO roles
  The Board of Directors of Ciba, now part of BASF, has appointed Michael Heinz (45) from BASF as the new Chief Executive Officer of Ciba.
  read more >>
  
  
• Guardian Announces New Board of Directors
  A Guardian Industries senior management team met this week to implement the provisions of the transition plan set up in recent years by Guardian owner William (Bill) Davidson.
  read more >>
  
  
• Kemira: Tikkurila concludes co-determination negotiations covering all Finnish operations
  Tikkurila has concluded its co-determination negotiations in Finland. The outcome of the negotiations will see a personnel reduction at the Vantaa site of 163, with 13 employees being made redundant.
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF Prepares for Short-time Working at Ludwigshafen Site
  As a result of the continuing weak economic situation, BASF is assessing in which production plants short-time working will be necessary as of June 1.
  read more >>
  
  
• Borouge to expand capacity six-fold
  Borouge, the Abu Dhabi petrochemicals company, is pushing ahead with a plan to boost its production capacity more than six-fold in the next four years by creating the world’s biggest polyolefin plastics complex.
  read more >>
  
  
• LyondellBasell Increases Fixed-Cost Reduction Target to $700 Million and Initiates Development of Plan of Reorganization
  LyondellBasell announced that it has increased its fixed-cost reduction target to $700 million by year-end 2010.
  read more >>
  
  
• EnerTeck Corporation Announces the Appointment of a New President
  EnerTeck Corporation (OTCBB: ETCK) (the "Company") is pleased to announce today that Mr. Gary B. Aman has been appointed to the position of President of EnerTeck Corporation.
  read more >>
  
  
• Chemical giant LyondellBasell to slash 3,000 jobs
  LyondellBasell says it is slashing 3,000 jobs to help meet the chemical giant's increased goal of cutting fixed costs by $700 million by the end of 2010.
  read more >>
  
  
• Eastman Announces Executive Management Appointments
  Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced that Richard L. Johnson has been appointed an executive officer of the company, effective May 7. In addition, responsibilities for executives Ronald C. Lindsay and Mark J. Costa will be expanded.
  read more >>
  
  
• Rohm and Haas Powder Coatings announces changes in Spain
  Rohm and Haas announced plans to exit its current powder coating production site at Castellón and build a new and smaller facility in the same area. This transition will occur throughout the rest of 2009 and into 2010.
  read more >>
  
  
• Lane to lead Strategic Marketing for BASF’s Polyurethanes
  Kenneth T. Lane will assume responsibility for the Global Strategic Marketing Unit of BASF’s Polyurethanes division as Group Vice President, effective April 1.
  read more >>
  
  
• BP cuts 620 jobs from solar business
  BP on Wednesday said it would cut 620 jobs from its solar power business and that two plants in Spain and part of a plant in the U.S. would be shut as it looks to reduce costs at its renewable energy division.
  read more >>
  
  
• Chevron Phillips Chemical Names New Leadership Team Member
  Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP announced the appointment of Chantal Veevaete to Vice President, Human Resources, effective April 3, 2009. Veevaete replaces Don Kremer, who has elected to retired.
  read more >>
  
  
• Avery Dennison Names John M. Sallay Senior Vice President, New Growth Platforms
  Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY) announced today that it has named John M. Sallay to the position of senior vice president, New Growth Platforms.
  read more >>
  
  
• GPCA Retains Al-Mady Chairman; Appoints Al-Sadoun New Secretary-General
  Mohamed Al-Mady has been retained chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA; Dubai), a regional grouping of some of the largest players in the petrochemicals and chemicals sectors.
  read more >>
  
  
• Cary R. Glay is Master Chemical Corporation's New Chief Financial Officer
  Master Chemical Corporation is pleased to announce that Cary R. Glay has joined Master Chemical Corporation as Chief Financial Officer.
  read more >>
  
  
• Univar Names President of USA Business
  Univar has appointed David Strizzi as president of Univar USA effective April 6, 2009.
  read more >>
  
  
• Asahi Kasei to Permanently Stop Polyester Production, and Exit Monofilament Business
  Asahi Kasei Fibers (AKF), an Asahi Kasei subsidiary, says it will stop in-house production of polyester and monofilament, and will close its manufacturing plants for these products located at Nobeoka, Japan by the end of September 2009, due to poor profitability.
  read more >>
  
  
• Evonik: New Head of Colorants Product Line
  Effective April 1, 2009, Dr. Matthias Creutz will take over as head of the Colorants Product Line of Evonik Industries; he will retain his current responsibilities as head of Supply Chain Management and Production.
  read more >>
  
  
• Bayer MaterialScience Builds Polyurethanes Raw Materials Plant in India
  Bayer MaterialScience says it plans to spend €20 million ($27.1 million)  on a new aromatic and aliphatic polyisocyanate manufacturing facility in India as part of its strategy to grow its business in the country and strengthen its position as a market leader in the supply of polyurethane (PU) raw materials.
  read more >>
  
  
• Air Products Announces Executive Management Changes
  Air Products announces the following organizational changes, effective April 1:
  read more >>
  
  
• BASF Idles Ludwigshafen Cracker Due to Poor Demand
  BASF says it will temporarily idle the smaller of its two steam crackers at Ludwigshafen, Germany due to continuing weak demand.
  read more >>
  
  
• Evonik Introduces €500 Million ($677 Million) Cost Cutting Program
  Evonik says it is introducing a cost-cutting program to save €500 million ($677 million)/year by 2012.
  read more >>
  
  
• Saudi Aramco renews commitment to long-term plans
  Oil company Saudi Aramco on Monday renewed its commitment to long-term investment plans in oil and gas during the global financial crisis, which has dampened demand for sources of energy.
  read more >>
  
  
• Clariant Appoints Mathias Lütgendorf Member of the Executive Committee
  Clariant has appointed Mathias Lütgendorf as a member of its Executive Committee, effective April 1, 2009. He will assume responsibility for the Textile, Leather and Paper Businesses as well as for the company's Asian region.
  read more >>
  
  
• Rhodia Announces Job Losses in France
  Rhodia has announced a restructuring of its operations in France that could lead to the loss of 132 jobs. The program focuses on two sites that produce nylon and one site operated by Rhodia's Novecare phosphorus derivatives and surfactants business.
  read more >>
  
  
• ExxonMobil Chemical to Set Up R&D Center in China
  ExxonMobil Chemical Company yesterday announced that it would set up a R&D center in Shanghai, in an attempt to support its product application in the robust Chinese and Asian markets.
  read more >>
  
  
• Ed Dineen Named Chief Operating Officer for LyondellBasell
  LyondellBasell Industries announced today that Ed Dineen has been appointed chief operating officer, effective immediately.
  read more >>
  
  
• Chemtura Files for Bankruptcy
  Chemtura says its U.S. operations have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as sharp demand declines drained liquidity and cash from the company.
  read more >>
  
  
• Caltex CEO earns new chemical engineering post
  Desmond King, CEO of Australian oil refining and marketing company, Caltex has been confirmed as IChemE’s (Institution of Chemical Engineers) Deputy President 2009-10. 
  read more >>
  
  
• DSM N.V. (NL) - DSM appoints new Executive Vice President Corporate Human Resources
  Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, today announces the following management changes:
  read more >>
  
  
• Ciba establishes leading technology Technical Service laboratory in China
  Ciba announces an expansion to its global Technical Service network with the opening of a new Technical Service Center in Shanghai to serve the Process & Lubricants Additives industry in China.
  read more >>
  
  
• UPDATE 1-Paint maker PPG to cut 2,500 jobs in restructuring
  PPG Industries Inc (PPG.N), the world's second-largest paint and coatings maker, said on Thursday it will cut 2,500 jobs in a restructuring plan aimed at saving $140 million annually.
  read more >>
  
  
• Dow Announces Start Up Of New Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR) Plant In Europe
  Dow Europe announced recently the start up of a new Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR) plant in Schkopau, Germany. The new facility includes a capacity rights agreement with JSR Corporation, based in Japan.
  read more >>
  
  
• DSM opens new engineering plastics compounding plant in India
  Royal DSM N.V. announces that it has opened a new manufacturing facility for producing engineering plastics compounds in India. 
  read more >>
  
  
• Arkema to Close Production Site in France
  Arkema has confirmed plans to close permanently its La Chambre, France manufacturing complex by the end of 2009 with the loss of 22 jobs. The La Chambre site produces amines and oxygenated solvents, including methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
  read more >>
  
  
• Change in Borealis-AMI Management
  Borealis announces that with effect from March 1, 2009, Hubert Puchner has been appointed as Managing Director of the fully-owned subsidiary AMI Agrolinz Melamine International GmbH (AMI), while still retaining his post as Vice President for Marketing and Sales of all nitrogen products within the Borealis Group.
  read more >>
  
  
• Total to Close More Petrochemical Units in France
  Total Petrochemicals says it will close a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant at Carling, France and a secondary butyl alcohol plant at Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, France.
  read more >>
  
  
• Eastman Chemical cutting up to 300 jobs
  Eastman Chemical Co. on Monday said it will take a $30 million charge as it cuts up to 300 jobs and reduces salaries, in an effort to trim costs and keep its dividend and lowered capital spending plans intact.
  read more >>
  
  
• Clariant looks to bolster efficiency
  CLARIANT, THE Swiss specialty chemical producer, still has much to do in the way of cost reduction and restructuring, admits new CEO Hariolf Kottmann. Speaking at the company's results conference in Zurich, he declared that Clariant "needs to build a sustainable platform of real performance as a foundation for profitable growth."
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• Huntsman Textile Effects to Establish New Headquarters in Singapore
  Huntsman Textile Effects, a division of Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) and a leading manufacturer of dyes and textile chemicals, today announced it will establish new headquarters in Singapore.
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• LANXESS Appoints Wolfgang Oehlert as Head of Inorganic Pigments Business Unit for Asia Pacific
  Specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG has appointed Dr. Wolfgang Oehlert (45) as Vice President for the Inorganic Pigments business unit for Asia Pacific. He is concurrently the General Manager of LANXESS Shanghai Pigments Co. Ltd. The appointments became effective on 1 March 2009.
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• UPDATE 2-A. Schulman withdraws fiscal '09 outlook, cuts jobs
  Chemical maker A. Schulman (SHLM.O) said on Monday it has withdrawn its fiscal 2009 outlook, as demand levels have not recovered since its fiscal first quarter.
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• Dow 'Moving Forward on a Number of Fronts,' But No Decision on Assets
  Dow Chemical says it has not ruled out any asset sales or other business options, but that the company has yet to finalize any specific actions. By Kara Sissell
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• American Chemistry Council Elects New Board Members
  The American Chemistry Council (ACC) recently announced David N. Weidman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Celanese Corporation as its 2009 Chairman of the Board. It also announced several incoming Officers, Committee Chairmen and members of the Board.
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• Lyondell under pressure to reorganise
  Lyondell Chemical faces a tight schedule to draft and approve a reorganisation plan or risk defaulting on an $8bn loan and losing control of the group, the chief financial officer said in testimony to a New York court yesterday. By Nicole Bullock in New York
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• WACKER plans to set up new polysilicon production facility in the United States
  Wacker Chemie AG has mid-term plans to construct a new hyperpure polycrystalline silicon facility in the US and has purchased land in the State of Tennessee for this purpose. The Munich-based chemical group announced the decision today.
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• Dow Corning announces reduction in global workforce
  Dow Corning Corporation announced it intends to eliminate approximately 800 positions globally in response to current economic challenges.
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• Michael J. Graff to Join Lubrizol Board of Directors
  The Lubrizol Corporation announces today that Michael J. Graff, 53, has been appointed to its board of directors.
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• Air Products Announces Executive Moves
  Air Products has made a number of executive appointments. 
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• UK Low & Bonar to target Middle East markets
  UK specialist textiles and performance materials manufacturer Low & Bonar plans to grow its presence in the Middle East, the company said on Tuesday.
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• Clariant Posts a Big Fourth-Quarter Net Loss; Will Likely Cut More Jobs
  Clariant posted a widening of its net losses and a decrease in sales for the fourth quarter of 2008, and says it plans to launch a program to raise its profitability and competitiveness to levels higher than those of its peer group.
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• Lyondell aims for bankruptcy exit by year-end
  Lyondell Chemical Co, which filed for bankruptcy for its U.S. operations on Jan. 6, intends to emerge from bankruptcy by year-end, a lawyer for the company told a court on Friday.
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• Univar continues its expansion in Europe with new operations in Lyon, France and Bratislava, Slovakia
  Univar announced a further expansion to its European setup. Univar France recently announced its plans to officially launch a 16 million Euro project at the Genay site. This will allow continual development in the Lyon region, which is one of Univar’s growth regions.
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• LyondellBasell to temporarily idle LDPE units at Carrington, UK and Fos-sur-Mer, France
  LyondellBasell Industries has taken steps to temporarily idle its low density polyethylene units at Carrington, United Kingdom, and Fos-sur-Mer, France, into the second quarter of 2009.
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• Huntsman suspends work on planned MDI plant in Europe
  Huntsman Corporation announced it has suspended work on design and feasibility studies for its planned investment in a new methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) plant at its site in Rozenburg, the Netherlands, because existing production capacity is adequate to meet current demand for MDI-based polyurethanes following the downturn in global economic growth. 
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• Chemtura Eyes Asset Sales to Ease Liquidity Crunch
  Chemtura says it is pursuing “multiple asset sales” as it works to secure cash and insure liquidity needed to meet a $370 million debt payment due on July 15. “Our primary and preferred path to obtain this liquidity is the sale of assets,” says Chemtura CEO Craig Rogerson. By Robert Westervelt
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• BASF takes steps to optimize its structures
  BASF is taking steps to optimize its structures in order to sharpen the company’s focus on its customer industries.
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• Invista to cease production at Offenbach, cuts 280 jobs
  Polyester manufacturer Invista will cease production at its Offenbach, Germany, site with the potential loss of around 280 jobs, the company said on Friday.
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• Fred Baumgartner to head new Paper Chemicals division at BASF
  The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, has appointed Dr. Ehrenfried (Fred) Baumgartner (56) as head of its new Paper Chemicals division with effect from April 1, 2009.
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• LANXESS appoints Stefan Limbach as Regional Manager of Rhein Chemie for ASEAN/ANZ markets
  Specialty chemicals company LANXESS Pte Ltd has appointed Stefan Limbach as Regional Manager for the Lubricants & Oil Additives (LOA) business line of Rhein Chemie business unit for the ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand markets.
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• Dow Corning Appoint 3 Corporate Vice Presidents
  Dow Corning Corporation’s Board of Directors has announced the appointment of three corporate vice presidents.
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• Perstorp: New Group CFO
  Perstorp has appointed Johan Malmqvist as its new Group CFO and he will start during spring 2009. He will replace Claes Gard, who will be leaving Perstorp at his own request after 8 years.
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• Dow Chemical to cut 400-500 Mich. jobs
  Dow Chemical Co. said Friday it would cut between 400 to 500 jobs near its Midland, Mich., headquarters as part of a previously announced global layoff plan.
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• LANXESS finalizes global package to counter crisis
  LANXESS AG has put together a global package of measures named CHALLENGE 09' in order to mitigate the effects of weak demand worldwide and strengthen the specialty chemicals group's position. This package includes a number of technical process improvements as well as measures affecting personnel.
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• Chemical companies recruit top talent
  Chemical firms keep talent recruitment and talent management as a high priority as human resources (HR) departments employ strategic measures to ensure the viability and future of their respective companies.
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• UPDATE 2-Clariant 2008 sales drop, to cut 5 pct of jobs
  Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant (CLN.VX) said it was axing 5 percent of its workforce in a bid to cut costs and could slash more jobs in 2009 after it posted a 5 percent drop in full-year sales.
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• Veolia director left due to differences on role-CEO
  French water and sewage group Veolia Environnement's (VIE.PA) finance director left his role this week due to differences in visions for the job, Chief Executive Henri Proglio was on Saturday quoted as saying.
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• Bayer MaterialScience unit plans to cut work week
  Bayer's (BAYG.DE) MaterialScience unit plans to adopt a shorter working week in response to a sharp decline in orders and unsatisfactory capacity utilisation, Bayer said on Friday.
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• Husky VP resigns amid questions over project fate
  Husky Energy Inc (HSE.TO) said on Thursday that the head of its oil sands division has resigned as questions linger about the fate of the company's multibillion-dollar Sunrise project with the oil industry in a downturn.
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• UPDATE 3-Huntsman to cut over 1,100 jobs, close plant
  U.S. chemical maker Huntsman Corp (HUN.N) said on Thursday it plans to cut about 1,175 jobs, or about 9 percent of its workforce, by year-end to reduce costs and tackle the huge slump in chemical demand. By Euan Rocha
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• PSL open European hub
  Powder Systems Limited (PSL) announced the opening of a new Central European office in Lyon, France.
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• Total Petrochemicals Consolidates European Styrene Business at the Gonfreville Facility and Commissions New World-Class Unit
  Total Petrochemicals today announces the start-up of a revamped world-class styrene* unit at its petrochemicals facility in Gonfreville-l’Orcher, near Le Havre, France.
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• UPDATE 2-Veolia replaces finance head
  French water and sewage group Veolia Environnement SA (VIE.PA) said on Monday its finance director Jerome Contamine was stepping down but its chairman and chief executive said this had no impact on the 2008 outlook. By Benjamin Mallet
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• Obama assembles 'science dream team'
  Throughout his election campaign, Barack Obama repeatedly promised to usher in a 'new era' of innovation and restore US scientific and technological standing in the world.
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• Invista to close Teesside plant
  Invista Textiles is to close its nylon intermediates and polymer plant at Wilton, Teesside with the loss of 300 jobs. By Chris Tighe
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• Rohm and Haas Company Announces Second Set of Actions in Response to Market Conditions
  Rohm and Haas Company today announced a second set of actions to adjust its operations and cost structure to reflect the slowing economy and widespread market weakness.
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• Thomas Piquemal has been appointed Executive Vice President in charge of finance at Veolia Environnement
  Thomas Piquemal has been appointed Executive Vice President in charge of finance at Veolia Environnement. In this role, Thomas Piquemal will join the Executive Committee of the group.
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• BASF Puts Staff on Short-Time Working as Business Deteriorates
  BASF says demand for its products in all regions has not picked up in the first half of January and customers are continuing to destock. Chairman Juergen Hambrecht says the situation remains tough and difficult to predict. "We do not expect the economic environment to improve in the coming months," he says. By Natasha Alperowicz
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• Equistar to Restart Olefins Unit
  Equistar Chemicals, LP, announced today that its olefins unit at La Porte, Texas, will return to service before the end of January. The unit was temporarily idled in October 2008 due to declining market and economic conditions.
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• BASF to Close Korean Butanediol and THF Plant
  BASF plans to permanently close its production facility for 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in Ulsan, which has been temporarily shut down since August 2008, and the company will continue to supply related customers via its global network.
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• UPDATE 2-Georg Fischer cuts 340 jobs, cites downturn
  Swiss car parts supplier and engineering group Georg Fischer (FIN.S) is cutting some 340 jobs, half of them in Switzerland, as it fights to maintain its profitability in adverse conditions.
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• Sunoco to Close Bayport Polypropylene Plant
  Sunoco says it will permanently close its 400-million lbs/year polypropylene (PP) facility at Bayport, TX by April 30. By Lindsey Bewley
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• Management change in Tikkurila's unit in Ukraine
  Mr. Allan Suvi, General Director of LLC Tikkurila, the Ukrainian subsidiary of Tikkurila, which is responsible for Kemira's paints and coatings business, has resigned from his duties on 12 January 2009 in order to pursue new challenges outside Tikkurila. 
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• Kemira Oyj: New Board of Directors to Tikkurila Oy
  New Board of Directors has been appointed to Tikkurila Oy. Harri Kerminen, President and CEO of Kemira Oyj, will continue as the Chairman of the Board.
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• A. Schulman appoints Dr. Irvin D. Reid to board of directors
  A. Schulman, Inc. announced that Dr. Irvin D. Reid will join its Board of Directors, effective immediately. In line with a recently approved proposal for annual election of all directors, he will serve a one-year term that will expire at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders.
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• Univar Names Chief Financial Officer – Europe
  Univar announced that it has appointed Christophe Jeusse as chief financial officer – Europe. Jeusse will report to both Steve Nielsen, Univar’s chief financial officer, and John van Osch, Univar’s group senior vice president – Europe.
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• UPDATE 1-Tronox's U.S. operations file for Chapter 11
  Chemical company Tronox Inc (TROXA.PK) said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for its U.S. operations on Monday, to address legacy liabilities.
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• US Cytec to cut 600 jobs, shut plants
  US chemicals producer Cytec Industries on Thursday announced a restructuring plan, including 600 job cuts and plant closures, and also reduced its 2008 earnings guidance as it responds to the “unprecedented downturn” in global markets.
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• Nova Cuts 400 Jobs, Warns of ‘Lousy’ Fourth Quarter Earnings
  Nova Chemicals will cut 400 jobs, about 15% of its work force, to counter falling prices and weakening demand, according to an analyst briefing Nova held yesterday. By Kara Sissell
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• Chevron Phillips Chemical Announces New Treasurer
  Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips Chemical) today announced the appointment of Trevor Roberts to Treasurer, effective immediately. Roberts replaces Joe McKee, who has retired.
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• Dow Chemical Confirms Commitment to Transformational Corporate Strategy
  The Dow Chemical Company announced a wide range of legal, operational and financial actions that will keep the Company on track to fulfill the transformational corporate strategy Dow has pursued since 2005.
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• BASF assumes EPCA presidency
  With effect from January 1, 2009, Dr. Albert Heuser (53), head of BASF’s Petrochemicals division, will become the new president of the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) for the next three years.
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