Editor’s note: The following industry professionals have recently received appointments or promotions. To submit your company’s personnel news for possible publication in CoatingsTech, email publications@paint.org with “Names in the News” in the subject line.

LBB Specialties LLC has appointed Thomas Van Valkenburgh president and CEO. He succeeds Hank DeWolf, who will remain with the company as a senior advisor to ensure continuity for LBB Specialties’ employees, principals, and customers.

Van Valkenburgh joins LBB Specialties from Kerry Group, a food company headquartered in Ireland, where he was president of the Specialty Chemicals business. Prior to his work at the Kerry Group, he was president of IMCD U.S. During his tenure with IMCD, he led a period of profitable growth while capitalizing on the opportunities following several acquisitions. Prior to joining IMCD, he held several roles while with Cristal.

During his time as CEO, DeWolf led the successful integration of seven legacy businesses into a unified company operating under the LBB Specialties brand.

Coatmaster AG has announced the appointment of Ralph Mennicke as CEO. The company says Mennicke’s hire signifies coatmaster’s commitment to grow its business during times of technology shifts, its dedication to innovation and customer value, and its drive toward operational excellence amid a challenging global economy

Mennicke has a background in non-destructive testing, advanced sensors and metrology, and international business management. The company says Mennicke’s track record of achieving substantial growth, fostering innovation, and building strong customer relationships will be crucial to its scale-up initiative aimed at fortifying its distribution network and its new venture into battery technology.

Barentz International B.V. has appointed Lars Schneider as CEO for the EMEA region, beginning October 1. Schneider will also become a member of the Barentz Board.

Schneider, who has more than 20 years of industry experience, comes from Brenntag, where he has held various leadership roles in Germany, Italy, Canada, and the Americas. Most recently, Schneider served as president of Brenntag Specialties Americas.

“I am honored to join Barentz and to lead the EMEA region toward continued success,” Schneider says. “My focus will be on fostering collaboration, enhancing our principal and customer relationships, and building on the strong foundation that Barentz has established in the region over its more than 70-year history.”

Schneider holds an MBA from London Business School. He will be relocating from Canada to the Netherlands for his new role.

IMCD Group has appointed Arturo Hoyo as managing director of IMCD Mexico. He assumes his new role as Miguel Ruiseñor prepares to retire.

Prior to joining IMCD, Hoyo spent more than 30 years in the industry and has held various commercial, technical, and senior leadership positions at a range of multinational businesses in Mexico and the United States.

Hoyo earned his master’s degree in quality engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana. As managing director of IMCD Mexico, he will report to Nicolas Kaufmann, LATAM president at IMCD.

Tnemec has appointed Katie Duda as its new director of Industrial Products. Duda, who has more than 24 years of expertise in the coatings industry, will oversee the support and expansion of the company’s industrial product portfolio, focusing on areas such as liner coatings for primary and secondary containment, CUI solutions, and other specialized offerings.

Duda holds an MBA in business administration with a minor in international business from Clemson University.

Induron Protective Coatings has promoted Chase Murphy to technical director, following the retirement of Jeff Lackey.

 

Murphy will manage the company’s technical operations, the research and development team, and all the chemical aspects of the company’s products. He will be responsible for all environmental and regulatory testing and reporting, and he will oversee the approval of any new raw material to be utilized in Induron’s processes. He will also be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with distributors and suppliers.

Murphy joined Induron as a lead chemist in 2023. Previously, he was a senior polymer chemist at Specialty Polymers in Chester, SC, and then later transitioned to R&D manager. Prior to that, Murphy spent two years at Carboline as a chemist and seven years at Sherwin-Williams in various roles.

The ChemQuest Group has announced the appointments of two new directors: Michael Henningsen and Graeme Roan. Both will support clients in the group’s Business Strategy & Transformation, Technology Development, and M&A Advisory Services pillars. In addition, Henningsen will also bring his expertise to projects related to Operational & Manufacturing Efficiencies.

An industrial chemist, Henningsen developed global leadership experience during a career with BASF that spanned more than 30 years. After joining BASF AG as a lab manager, he rose to become director of global product development for the intermediates division of BASF SE.

Henningsen studied chemistry at the University of Hannover, where he earned his doctorate, and at Imperial College, London. He is fluent in German and English.

As a global strategy and marketing manager, Roan has held a range of technical and business development roles with companies such as ICI Acrylics, Henkel, and CCT Tapes. Most recently, Roan served as global strategy and market manager for Synthomer.

Roan holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Nottingham.