Celanese Corporation, the US-based technology and specialty materials company, has appointed Dr Verghese Thomas as chief technology & innovation officer. The appointment of Dr Thomas, currently the 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. 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,” said Mark Rohr, chairman and chief executive officer, Celanese.
One of the key pillars of Celanese’s operating model is the value created by the company’s technology & innovation organisation. Through innovative process technology, application solutions and pipeline development, this organisation 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.
