People in Composites: April 2020

Chromaflo Technologies adds Luc Driessen to Global Innovation and Technology Team

Global colorant systems, chemical and pigment dispersions supplier Chromaflo Technologies (Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S.) announced on April 16 that Luc Driessen has been added as the newest member of the company’s Global Innovation and Technology team at the Sittard, Netherlands facility.

In his position, Driessen will be assisting the team in systematically improving Chromaflo’s existing product performance and developing next generation product lines throughout its product portfolio.

“We’re thrilled to have Luc join the Innovation and Technology team,” says Dr. Brij Mohal, VP of innovation and technology. “We’re excited about what Luc brings to our department, including his depth of knowledge and years of experience in the Coatings industry.”

Gurit CEO to step down March 2021

Gurit (Zurich, Switzerland) reported on April 23 that the company’s CEO Rudolf Hadorn has decided to step down as CEO of Gurit Holding AG at the end of March 2021.

The company says that during the 14 years under Hadorn’s leadership, Gurit has developed a strong strategic position in wind energy and industrial lightweighting. Both sales and profitability of the Group have increased significantly. The search process for the future CEO of Gurit Holding AG has already been initiated, and the nomination will be announced when it has been made.

The Board of Directors has also laid the groundwork for a succession planning geared towards continuity: Rudolf Hadorn will be proposed for election to the Board of Directors at the 2021 Annual General Meeting. He would replace Urs Kaufmann, who will not be available for re-election after 15 years on the Board of Directors. It is also planned that Rudolf Hadorn will be proposed for election as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the 2022 General Meeting and will then succeed Peter Leupp.

New SGL Carbon CEO to begin position on June 1

On February 10, 2020, the Supervisory Board of SGL Carbon SE (Weisbaden, Germany) appointed Dr. Torsten Derr as CEO for the duration of five years effective July 1, 2020. In agreement with his current employer, Dr. Derr will now take up his position as CEO of SGL Carbon one month earlier, on June 1, 2020.

Since 2016, Dr. Torsten Derr has held the position of Managing Director of SALTIGO GmbH, a subsidiary of LANXESS AG. Following his master’s degree and attainment of his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Bremen, Derr began his professional career 1997 at Bayer AG, and since 2003 at LANXESS AG, where he was Vice President for Plastic Intermediates, Head of the Business Units Material Protection Products and EPDM-Elastomers, as well as holding various other management functions, amongst others as Head of Commercial & Supply Chain Excellence & Chief Commercial Officer of LANXESS AG.