Lanxess appoints Arkema exec to top NAFTA role

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Lanxess has appointed Antonis Papadourakis as president and chief executive officer of Lanxess Corp. and country speaker for the NAFTA Region, effective 1 July. He will also become business unit head for all NAFTA activities of the High Performance Materials business unit (BU HPM)

He will replace Flemming Bjoernslev, who is leaving his role at the Pittsburgh-based speciality chemical company to take on a new role within Lanxess. He has served as president and CEO since October 2012, acting as the managing director for the NAFTA Region.

Papadourakis has been regional group president Americas at Altuglas International, part of Arkema group, since 2012. He joined Arkema in 2007 as business director, organic peroxides, Americas and then general manager, sustainability additives.

With a degree and PhD in chemical engineering, Papadourakis‘ career also includes roles at Rohm and Haas and Engelhard Corp.