Celanese appoints Verghese Thomas Chief Technology & Innovation Officer

14-Jul-2016 - USA

Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, announced it has appointed Dr. Verghese Thomas as Chief Technology & Innovation Officer. The appointment of Thomas, currently the company’s Global Technology & Innovation Director of the Celanese engineered materials and EVA polymers businesses, supports the company’s emphasis on applying its process, product and application technology expertise toward customer-focused innovation.

“Verghese brings to this role a keen understanding of how the company’s technology, product and innovation strategy serves our business strategy," said Mark Rohr, chairman and chief executive officer, Celanese. “In leading our technology and innovation efforts, his responsibilities will include accelerating collaboration across and within the company’s Materials Solutions and Acetyls cores to enhance the company's dual capabilities in technology-enabled chemistry and customer-oriented solutions.”

One of the key pillars of Celanese’s operating model is the value created by the company’s Technology & Innovation organization. Through innovative process technology, application solutions and pipeline development, this organization has been a key contributor to the company’s growth strategy.

Dr. Thomas joined Celanese in 2009 and has held various technology roles of increasing leadership responsibility in the company. In the past 18 months, Dr. Thomas led the team responsible for the technology innovation efforts in the Celanese engineered materials business as it contributed significantly to the record financial performance achieved by the company.

Prior to joining Celanese, Dr. Thomas was the Global Technology General Manager for the Specialty Film & Sheet business at Sabic Innovative Plastics. Previously, he held various technology leadership roles in multiple businesses at GE Plastics with a strong track record of innovation in polymer product and process technologies.

Dr. Thomas holds Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Polymer Technology from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/158914/celanese-appoints-verghese-thomas-chief-technology-innovation-officer.html