People In the News
Richard Sedlak, American Cleaning Institute’s
(ACI) Executive VP of Technical & International
Affairs, retired on Dec. 31 after more than 42
years with the association. Dr. James Kim, ACI’s
Associate VP of Science & Regulatory Affairs, succeeds
Sedlak on Jan. 1. Prior to ACI, Kim served
as a Senior Toxicologist at the U.S. Office of
Information & Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office
of Management & Budget (OMB).
Unilever is making changes to the Unilever Leadership Executive
(ULE). Amanda Sourry, President of Unilever North America, is
retiring after more than 30 years with the company. Fabian Garcia
succeeded Sourry as President of Unilever North America on Jan.
1. Garcia formerly served as President & CEO of Revlon from
2016–2018, has held roles with Colgate Palmolive and Procter
& Gamble and is currently a member of Kimberly Clark Corp.’s
Board of Directors. Conny Braams, Executive VP of Unilever
Middle Europe, was appointed to the new role of Chief Digital &
Marketing Officer on Jan. 1.
In other news, Unilever has appointed Nils Andersen as
Chairman. Andersen, a Danish businessman and Non-Executive
Director of the Board, replaces Marijn Dekkers who is stepping
down from the position after three years. Andersen joined Unilever’s
Board in 2015 after heading AP Moller Maersk A/S and
Carlsberg A/S. Andersen is also Chairman of Akzo Nobel NV and
Salling Group A/S, as well as a Non-Executive Director at BP. He
announced he would step down from his roles at BP and Salling in
March.
Karl Haider has been appointed Tata Steel Europe’s Chief Commercial
Officer. He replaces Henrik Adam who became CEO of
Tata Steel in Europe last June. Haider began his career in the steel
industry as an apprentice at voestalpine in 1981, later serving with
DSM, voestalpine again and then joining Tata Steel in Europe in
2011 as Director of Downstream Operations.
Firmenich has appointed Francesco
Riosa as VP, Fine Fragrance
Europe. Prior to this role, Riosa
served as VP of Global Marketing
at Richemont for Panerai.
He began his career at Procter
& Gamble in Germany and has
also held positions at L’Oréal
Luxury, Dior Parfums and Prada
Fragrances. Sophie Labbe has been named Principal Perfumer in
Firmenich’s Fine Fragrance team in Paris. She previously served as
a perfumer with IFF for 27 years.
April Holt has been appointed as Group VP,
Stores for Beauty Systems Group at Sally Beauty
Holdings. She joins the company from Victoria’s
Secret, where she worked for the last 16 years.
Prior to that, Holt worked for GAP and Old
Navy.
Tekni-Plex, Inc. has named Michael Luo as Head
of China operations, based in Suzhou, following
his stint as GM of Tekni-Plex Suzhou since 2017. Luo joined the
42 Spray January 2020
Sedlak
company in 2014 as Director of Sales & Marketing.
He will succeed Russell Hubbard, who
retired.
Daria Carlin Long has been promoted to Gelest
VP & GM, Personal Care Group. Reporting to
CEO Ken Gayer, Long will lead all aspects of
the company’s personal care business, including
marketing, sales and product and distributionchannel
management.
Kruti Shah has joined Charkit Chemical as Technical Marketing
Director. Shah hails from Evonik, where she served a Global Key
Account Manager, and prior, with IFF/Lucas Meyer Cosmetics.
She began her career in R&D at Avon and L’Oréal. Shah is
a member of the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists and
Cosmetic Executive Women.
Joe Ng was promoted to the newly established
position of Operations Manager at MicroCare
Asia. Ng has served with MicroCare’s sales and
logistical assistance for four years. MicroCare has
named Eric Lie as Sticklers Business Manager
for the Asia Region. Both men will be based in
Singapore.
Coty Inc. has tapped Pascal Baltussen as Global Chief Procurement
Officer and a member of the Executive Committee, based in Amsterdam.
Baltussen previously served as Global VP Procurement and
Sustainability at Mars Wrigley, and prior, with AB InBev in several
global locations including the U.S., China, UK, Belgium and The
Netherlands.
eos Products has named Kellogg Co. executive Jane Ko as VP of
North America Marketing. Ko previously led global growth initiatives
and brand strategy for Kellogg brands Special K and Pringles and also
held position at L’Oréal, Seaman Schepps and Nars Cosmetics.
Huntsman Chairman, President & CEO Peter Huntsman will
join the American Chemistry Council (ACC) as Board Officer
on Jan. 1. Huntsman will serve a one-year term as Vice Chairman
of the Board and Chair of the Council’s Board Finance, Audit &
Membership Committee.
Irina Agro has joined specialty chemical company Schülke Inc.
as Global Key Accounts Manager. She brings with her 10 years
of international sales experience in fine chemicals, life science,
biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Priscille Caucé has been appointed President &
CEO of COSMOGEN by its major shareholder,
MBO Partenaires. Caucé has held executive
positions with L’Oréal, LVMH and Michael Kors
and was the founder and former owner of luxury
gift-with-purchase agency GIFT ID.
Archroma’s Board of Directors has appointed Heike
van de Kerkhof as CEO on Jan. 6. Van de Kerkhof hails from Castrol,
where she served as VP, Western Hemisphere. She has also held
roles at DuPont, The Chemours Co. and Neste Oil. She succeeds
Labbe
Holt
Riosa
Luo
Ng
Caucé