Azelis names Group Technical Innovation Director

Ron Rosenberg has been named Azelis’ first Group Technical Innovation Director, effective 1 September 2019. This appointment reinforces the company’s focus on application and formulation support, and ambition to become the benchmark in the industry as a fully integrated and innovative solutions provider.

The new role covers the group’s strategy and direction for innovation, leadership for Azelis lab community and optimization and harmonization of Azelis' 60 labs across the globe. Earlier this year, Azelis redefined its brand positioning into “Innovation through formulation” thus formalizing the increased focus the company has had on technical innovations and formulation support, often resulting in independent industry recognitions and awards.

Ron Rosenberg, Azelis’ Group Technical Innovation Director

Mr Rosenberg has a rich track record in R&D and corporate engineering for plastic and rubber additives, agricultural chemicals and polyurethane chemicals, and currently holds a function of Technical Director Americas. In his new role, he will be responsible for definition and implementation of the group’s vision and strategy regarding innovation, as well as providing guidelines and ensuring alignment on innovation priorities across the Azelis group. Furthermore, he will supervise and provide leadership to Azelis lab organization across the entire group with the aim to foster, ensure and coordinate knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices across all labs. He will also lead the optimization and harmonization of Azelis' 60 labs across the globe.

Dr. Hans Joachim Müller, Azelis CEO, comments on the appointment: “Ron is an experienced technical director with a demonstrated history of leading technical teams to business success in the specialty chemicals industry. His strong interest in building effective multidisciplinary teams and exemplary track record in application development, technical service, product and process development, have all been a fantastic asset to Azelis. We are confident he is the best possible candidate for this new, strategic function in Azelis.”

Mr Rosenberg has been with Azelis since 2014 and prior to this promotion held a position of Technical Director Americas. During his time at Azelis, he has successfully led and professionalized the Azelis Americas CASE lab team. Some of his achievements include but are not limited to: establishing a new process for disciplined joint planning and selection of lab projects, unifying teams from different heritage companies and raising Azelis Americas CASE success rate of initial commercialization. He was often instrumental in helping Azelis Americas win some critical new mandates with key industry players by providing primary in-house technical support.

Prior to joining Azelis, Mr Rosenberg held various high positions in R&D and corporate engineering in support of plastic and rubber additives, agricultural chemicals and polyurethane chemicals.

He holds an MBA from University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Yale University, a master’s degree in Chemistry from Southern Connecticut State University and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology from Tufts University in Massachusetts.

As Group Technical Innovation Director, he will report to Azelis group CEO and will keep a dotted line to Doug Kercher, Azelis Americas VP Corporate Operations, for Azelis appoints Group Technical Innovation Director, strengthening Azelis’ focus on application and formulation support Americas activities.