Michelman announces executive leadership changes

Cincinnati-based Michelman continues its preparation in advance of Dr Richard (Rick) I. Michelman’s selection as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer. Effective 1 January, the following executive leadership changes will position the company for continued success and reinforce its commitment to its Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet, & Profit.

Dr Rick Michelman, currently chief technology officer and executive vice president Americas and Printing and Packaging, will become president and chief executive officer. He has been with the company for more than 25 years, acquiring broad operation and market knowledge by serving in many organizational roles, including product development, technology management, business development, regional leadership, and business segment leadership. Furthermore, his background as a chemist gives him an understanding of the sustainable solutions Michelman continues to innovate globally.

Andrew Michelman, the company’s chief business development officer and executive vice president, Asia and Fibers and Composites, will assume additional leadership responsibility for Michelman’s Americas region and Coatings business segment. In his expanded role, Michelman will oversee the commercial operations in Asia and the Americas and manage the strategic directions and operations of the Fibers and Composites and Coatings business segments. He joined Michelman in 2015 after accumulating over 20 years of global M&A experience. In addition, he has worked in investment banking with Citigroup in New York and London and as a strategy and corporate development consultant with European-based manufacturer Valliant Group.

Paul Griffith, Michelman’s chief marketing officer, and executive vice president EMEA and Agriculture, will add leadership of its Printing and Packaging business segment to his responsibilities. He takes over the business segment’s leadership from Dr Rick Michelman as he transitions to president and chief executive officer. Griffith will maintain his leadership over organization-wide marketing, the EMEA region, and the agriculture business segment. He came to Michelman in 2016 with almost 30 years’ career in the chemical industry, where he held senior and executive leadership positions at The Dow Chemical Company, ExxonMobil, and Jindal Films, including assignments in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Jason Wise, appointed chief financial officer in 2019, will assume the role of chief financial and risk officer responsible for the direction and operations of Michelman’s finance, accounting, legal, regulatory, and environmental health, and safety functions. Previous to joining Michelman in 2012, Wise held senior-level managerial and auditing positions at global, mid-to-large-sized market companies, including Baker Concrete Construction, Sun Chemical, Deloitte, and Arthur Anderson.

Kreg Keesee will remain as chief operating officer after being appointed in 2020. He joined Michelman in 2016 as chief supply chain officer and has since transitioned to chief administrative officer and then COO. He currently has leadership and management responsibility for human resources, operations, supply chain, and information technology. Before joining Michelman, Keesee worked in finance at Procter & Gamble and held senior and executive leadership positions with Sun Chemical. At Sun Chemical, he had a series of posts with increasing responsibility, including vice president Global Supply Chain, vice president – Global Business Transformation, and chief information officer and vice president – Sun Graphics Division.

Explains Steve Shifman, the company’s outgoing president, and chief executive officer, “These executive appointments provide leadership continuity and support the momentum we have for delivering on our purpose of Innovating a Sustainable Future. We have deployed exceptional talent to ensure that we continue to be more vital and impactful than ever before, as there is increased demand for our sustainable solutions in the coatings, printing and packaging, and fibers and composites markets.”

Shifman will transition to executive chair in 2022 after leading the company for nearly twenty years. During his tenure, Michelman has expanded its global footprint and significantly grown in size and profitability. As a result, more than 50% of its business is currently being generated outside of the United States.

Adds Shifman, “It’s an exciting time at Michelman. Our foundation is strong, and we are committed to building the business for generations to come.”

Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing and packaging, and industrial manufacturing markets. The company’s surface additives and polymeric binders are used by  manufacturers around the world to enhance performance attributes and add value in applications including wood and floor care products, metal and industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers, and composites.

Michelman is also well-known as an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings, as well as digital printing-press primers that are used in the production of consumer and industrial packaging, paper products, labels, and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its customers with production facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel.