Shanghai, China -- Dow Chemical Co. has a new Pacific leadership team, with Jim McIlvenny becoming senior vice president, Performance Products; Pat Dawson will become Asia Pacific president (including India and Pakistan); and Peter Sykes will serve as president of Greater China. The appointments take effect 1 Jan 2010.
Dow said that, in its transformation into a speciality chemicals and advanced materials company focussed on earnings growth, Asia Pacific is a major growth engine. The group's increasing investment in Asia Pacific includes innovation capability, world-class local talent and differentiated product portfolios to support customers' businesses. As a result, Dow claims, its business has been growing at double digits over the last few years in the region.
"With the Rohm and Haas integration, the Asia Pacific region holds a position of even greater importance within Dow's global landscape, accounting for 13 percent of our global revenue and featuring mega projects expected to significantly elevate our capability and competitiveness in the next decade. We are confident that this new leadership structure will further drive our business development in this important region," commented Andrew Liveris, Dow chairman and ceo, in the company's 16 Dec announcement.
After leading Dow in Greater China and Asia Pacific for six years, Jim McIlvenny will relocate to Dow's US headquarters in his new role. Reporting directly to Andrew Liveris, he will have responsibility and full accountability for the global business strategy and tactical decisions of this division, which includes businesses covering an extensive range of products for household, transport, coating and personal-care markets.
"We have made a lot of progress but there is still much work to do to achieve the growth that is available to us in this fast-growing region," said McIlvenny. "I am pleased to hand over to two very strong leaders and supporters of the Asia Pacific region."
A 29-year Dow veteran, Pat Dawson became president for the Dow Polyurethanes business portfolio in 2004. "I'm very motivated about my geographic role for the Asia Pacific region," he commented. "I look forward to developing our business portfolio strategies and talent across the region so that we can deliver on our strategic and financial objectives. This will require intense teamwork, entrepreneurship and leadership at all levels."
Dow opened its largest integrated R&D centre in Shanghai, China earlier this year. On the manufacturing side, Dow said that "mega projects in the pipeline" - including an investment in Thailand and the Dow-Shenhua integrated chemical complex in China - are "designed to provide in-market reliable supply to local customers." The addition of the Rohm and Haas business also presents Dow with a strong position in the electronic materials market, particularly in Japan and Korea, Dow added. (LW)
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