Effective 1 November 2009, Jacob (Jake) Axel has assumed the position of President of Axel Plastics Research Laboratories. The former President Frank Axel will remain with the company in the capacity of Chairman and CEO.

The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, Inc. (IISRP) will honour two of its outstanding leaders at its next Annual General Meeting in Dubai, UAE, in April 2010. Jacques Collonge, retired from Eliokem, will be the recipient of the General Award and Yasuhiko Takemura, retired from JSR, will receive the Technical Award.

Todd Prey, who is currently Vice President for Plastics, Fluids, and Polyurethanes within Dow Automotive Systems, will add business leadership responsibilities for Body Structure, Energy Management and Commercial Transportation.

Steve Henderson has been appointed President of Dow Automotive Systems, replacing Peter Sykes who assumed the role of President Greater China for the holding company Dow Chemical. In addition, Sykes also served as President Japan & Korea for Dow based in Tokyo, Japan. He will relinquish this responsibility. Henderson will be responsible for the global profit and loss, business strategy and organisational health of the automotive division.

Werner Wenning, 62, Bayer AG CEO since 2002, is to extend his contract of service by eight months to 30 September 2010, a few weeks before his 64th birthday. Bayer’s Supervisory Board appointed Netherlands-born Dr. Marijn E. Dekkers, 51, currently President and CEO of US laboratory equipment manufacturer Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., to succeed Wenning as CEO from 1 October 2010.

Speciality chemicals company Eliokem announced the appointment of four regional directors in the USA, India, China and Asia Pacific.

Austin Simmons has been appointed Satra’s top executive position after Richard Turner retired as Chief Executive at the end of June 2009. Simmons, who was Deputy Chief Executive from 2007, has worked closely with Turner for 13 years with a direct involvement in developing corporate strategy and initiatives across the company’s consumer and industrial product sectors.

At Tessenderlo Chemie NV’s annual general meeting of 2 June 2009, Baron Valère Croes was re-elected as member of the board of directors.

Charles Page was promoted to Product Manager of the global TPE technology platform.

The European Thermoplastic Independent Compounders (Ethic), a European Plastics Converters (EuPC) sector group, has elected, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer for the period 2008 – 2010.