People in composites: March 2024

SGL Carbon appoints new head of Carbon Fibers business unit

As of March 1, 2024, Dr. Denis Hinz has become new head of SGL Carbon’s (Wiesbaden, Germany) Carbon Fibers business unit. The previous head, Roland Nowicki, will leave SGL Carbon on May 31, 2024 at his own request to pursue new professional challenges. Nowicki will be available to the company as a consultant until his leaving date to support a smooth transition.

Nowicki took over as head of Carbon Fibers in November 2020 and has successfully driven forward the realignment of the business unit over the past 3 years. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Roland Nowicki for the exemplary cooperation and his achievements for SGL and wish him all the best for his future, both professionally and privately,” says Dr. Torsten Derr, CEO of SGL Carbon SE. “At the same time, we would like to congratulate Dr. Denis Hinz on his new position.”

Hinz has been with SGL Carbon for more than 6 years and has held various management positions during this time, including head of operations of the Fuel Cell Components division and managing director of SGL Fuel Cell Components GmbH in Meitingen since December 2021. The graduate engineer from the Technical University of Munich is an experienced manager who is well networked within SGL Carbon and has closely followed the development of carbon fibers in recent years.

“The Carbon Fibers business unit has great and innovative products for attractive and sustainable markets. Unfortunately, our largest market, the wind industry, is currently in a serious crisis, which has also affected Carbon Fibers,” notes Hinz. “We are facing a number of challenges in the coming months, and I am looking forward to tackling these with my colleagues.”

DITF ramps up sustainability focus with new department, CSO appointment

The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) has set up a specialist department reporting to the organization’s executive board in order to meet the challenges of sustainability reporting (CSRD) while also maintaining responsibility for sustainable and resource-conserving science. This, in turn, has led to the appointment of the previous Head of the Competence Center Textile Chemistry, Environment & Energy, Dr.-Ing. habil. Thomas Stegmaier, as chief sustainability officer (CSO). In addition to this new role, Stegmaier will continue to provide his expertise to the Competence Center as deputy head.

Dr.-Ing. habil. Thomas Stegmaier, DITF CSO. Source | DITF

The task of the CSO is to develop solutions that reduce the DITF’s energy and resource consumption, promote renewable energies and implement efficient energy use. The management team, the operational organizational units and all employees are involved in the process.

The CSO also acts as a driving force for both the executive board and the research departments to promote sustainability issues

The DITF consider these tasks to be an important part of the process of becoming an energy-efficient and climate-neutral research institution.

Liquid Measurement Systems announces director of engineering and operations promotion

Jason Corrigan, LMS director of engineering and operations (DEO). Source | LMS

Liquid Measurement Systems (LMS, Fairfax, Vt., U.S.), a provider of aerospace fuel gauging solutions, announces the promotion of Jason Corrigan to the position of director of engineering and operations (DEO). Formerly serving as director of engineering, Corrigan’s appointment to this role underscores LMS’ commitment to seamless integration between engineering and operational services, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, industry standards and federal regulations.

With proven leadership capabilities and keen problem-solving insight, Corrigan is positioned to oversee engineering and operational services for LMS. As DEO, he will organize and coordinate the delivery of services and products into a seamless delivery system, ensuring the highest quality standards are met at every stage of development and manufacture.

“The elevation of Jason Corrigan to DEO reflects his strong leadership capabilities and broad understanding of our industry,” says Scott Fewell, CEO of LMS. “His strategic vision, coupled with his track record of driving operational excellence, makes him the ideal candidate to lead our engineering and operations teams.”

In his new role as DEO, Corrigan will be responsible for building and maintaining facilities, managing the supply chain and overseeing personnel to ensure they are qualified and equipped to fulfill their responsibilities. He will also play a key role in strategic planning, budgetary oversight and collaborating with other directors and department managers to allocate resources effectively.

SGL Carbon to receive new CEO in 2025

The current CEO of SGL Carbon SE, Dr. Torsten Derr, has informed the chairman of the supervisory board that he will not extend his contract, which expires on May 31, 2025. Derr will continue his duties until the new CEO is appointed, at the latest until May 31, 2025.

“SGL Carbon is once again a strong and stable company whose profitable development I will continue to work on with all my strength until the last day. But even without me, my colleague on the board of management, Thomas Dippold and the team will continue to develop the company successfully,” says Derr. “The last almost four years have always been the achievement of the entire SGL team. SGL Carbon is now sailing in stable waters and my transformation work will therefore be completed shortly.”

“We are grateful to Dr. Derr for talking to us early on and in a spirit of trust,” says Prof. Dr. Frank Richter. “This will allow us to take our time in arranging his succession. SGL Carbon can look back on 3 successful financial years, is financially strong and relies on a broad-based management team that continues to drive forward the expansion of the business in strong growth markets. In our discussions, Dr. Derr has promised to complete all important projects with his usual commitment until the handover of the CEO position.”

The supervisory board will immediately begin the search for a successor.

Spirit AeroSystems names new board of directors member

Jane P. Chappell, Spirit board of directors member. Source | Spirit AeroSystems

As of Feb. 26, Jane P. Chappell joined Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc.’s (Wichita, Kan., U.S.) board of directors. She will serve on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Risk Committee. Chappell has more than four decades of experience, 17 years at the executive level, providing operational and strategic leadership in the defense industry.

“Jane Chappell is an established leader in the American defense and intelligence sectors; we are thrilled that she will serve on Spirit’s board of directors,” says Spirit AeroSystems board chair Robert D. Johnson. “Her leadership and depth of experience are unparalleled — she will undoubtedly add value as we grow across our defense and space programs. We look forward to her contributions.”

Chappell serves as CEO of Altamira Technologies, a national security company in the defense and intelligence sectors. She is on the board of advisors for Lone Star Analysis. Before Altamira, Chappell was with RTX Corp. (formerly Raytheon) for 36 years. Her service at RTX culminated with her role as vice president of GeoSpatial Intelligence Solutions from 2015 to 2019. She partnered with customers and industry teammates in this position to shape markets and drive growth in the intelligence, commercial and international space ground business.

Chappell was named among Washington Exec’s Top Space Executives in 2023 and one of Washingtonian’s “Tech Titan in 2023.” She won the National Reconnaissance Office Director and National Reconnaissance Office Ground Enterprise Directorate Director’s Gold medal for outstanding contributions to the mission in 2020 and 2019. She earned the Raytheon CEO Leadership Award in 2008.

ASTM International welcomes new president

ASTM International (West Conshohocken, Pa., U.S.) announces the appointment of Andrew G. Kireta Jr. as the organization’s new president, effective May 1, 2024. Kireta’s background in standards development and familiarity with the organization positions him to lead ASTM International into future growth and innovation. He will succeed Katharine Morgan, who served in the role since 2017 and will retire after a distinguished 40-year career with ASTM.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy as president of ASTM International,” says Bill Griese, 2024 chair of ASTM’s board of directors. “Andy has spent years supporting ASTM International in a variety of volunteer roles and is well suited to lead the organization forward. He brings a strong commitment to ASTM’s mission, values and membership. Kathie’s dedication and engagement have made it possible for us to find the right leader for ASTM’s future, and we are delighted she will help to ensure a smooth transition as Andy assumes the role in May.”

Kireta is president and CEO of the Copper Development Association and has been with the not-for-profit trade association since 1992, serving the past two decades in an executive management capacity. He has been an ASTM International member since 1998, and joined the board of directors in 2014, serving as chair of the audit and finance committee in 2017, vice chair in 2018 and 2019 and chair of the board in 2020. Kireta also previously served as vice chair and chair of the board of SEI International, an ASTM affiliate.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the new president of ASTM International,” says Kireta. “I have great respect for ASTM’s mission, staff, members and partners, and I am humbled to lead an organization that has made such a meaningful impact on industry and society over its 125-year history. I am eager to work with the ASTM community to build upon that success as we advance our mission of helping our world work better.”

In his role as president, Kireta will lead what is said to be one of the oldest and largest standards organizations in the world, overseeing 35,000 global members who work to develop and refine more than 12,900 technical standards and solutions that represent over 90 industry sectors.

ASK Chemicals Group announces CEO

ASK Chemicals Group (Hilden, Germany), a supplier of foundry chemicals and a global supplier of high-performance industrial resins, announces Luiz Totti as the group’s new CEO, effective immediately.

Totti has been with ASK Chemicals for more than 11 years, having demonstrated remarkable leadership and vision during his tenure with the company. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Totti held several key positions within ASK Chemicals, including managing director of South America, executive vice president (EVP) Americas and EVP of Asia. His extensive experience and successful track record in these roles have been pivotal in expanding the company’s footprint and strengthening its competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Prior to joining ASK Chemicals, Totti worked at companies such as Akzo Nobel and PPG, where he held various leadership positions. Totti’s appointment is a strategic decision by ASK Chemicals to leverage his extensive experience and vision to drive sustainable growth and strengthen the company’s leadership position in its markets.

The board of directors and the entire ASK Chemicals team warmly welcome Totti in his new role as CEO and look forward to achieving new milestones and creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.