Firestone Polymers names new president

Lake Charles, Los Angeles – Firestone Polymers has named Gene Lavengco as its new president and CEO.

He replaces Bob Handlos, who the firm said plans to retire at the end of 2016. Lavengco will take over effective Oct. 1 and has worked within Firestone Polymers for 36 years, most recently as executive director of manufacturing.

Firestone Polymers provides solution polybutadiene, styrene butadiene, block copolymers and thermoplastic elastomers from its sites in Akron, Lake Charles and Orange, Texas, to Bridgestone Corp.’s global tire plants and to the plastics industry in outside trade markets.