The Chemours Company (Wilmington, Del.) announced that, during the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company divided its former Fluoroproducts segment into two new reportable segments: Thermal & Specialized Solutions (TSS, formerly Fluorochemicals) and Advanced Performance Materials (APM, formerly Fluoropolymers).
This change will enable an enhanced customer centered approach, management focus and decision-making, strengthened resource allocation, and increased transparency and accountability. Each business will be empowered to maximize its full potential through continued investments in innovation and technology that build on Chemours’ unmatched expertise across both unique product portfolios, leading to strong long-term customer and shareholder value.
Accordingly, new leadership has been appointed to lead the TSS and APM segments and unlock the value in these businesses. Alisha Bellezza, current Vice President, Fluorochemicals, has been appointed President of TSS. Denise Dignam, current Vice President, Fluoropolymers, has been appointed President of APM. Edwin (Ed) Sparks, currently President of Fluoroproducts, will become President of the Titanium Technologies business upon the retirement of Bryan Snell. Each of these appointments will be effective March 1, 2021.
“Our Fluoroproducts business includes two highly customer-centered units that serve distinctly different customers with very specific needs. The decision to divide these new segments will allow us to capitalize on the unique market opportunities addressed by solutions from both units, while creating new growth opportunities for our customers,” said Mark Newman, Chief Operating Officer. “This evolution in approach also accelerates our ability to continue to build a broad portfolio of high-performing advanced materials that will continue to drive innovation for technologies and markets that people around the world interact with every day.”
Chemours’ current fluorochemicals reporting unit will become the new TSS segment.
Alisha Bellezza, newly appointed president of Thermal & Specialized Solutions, will also become a member of the Chemours Executive Team, effective March 1, 2021. She was appointed to lead the fluorochemicals business in July 2020. She is a strong and accomplished leader who has held multiple roles within and outside of the company. Prior to joining fluorochemicals, she served as Vice President, Global Sales, Commercial Operations & Supply Chain in Titanium Technologies, and led the commercial execution of the Ti-Pure Value Stabilization strategy (TVS), including the launch of Ti-Pure Flex. She previously was Vice President and Treasurer and led the company’s Investor Relations function. Bellezza has a background in economics, finance and strategy, and brings over two decades of finance and industry experience to her new role.
Chemours’ current fluoropolymers reporting unit will become the new APM segment. The business will continue to deliver a large portfolio of high-performance materials, including fluoropolymers that have the highest performance envelope in their respective categories – from thermal stability, to friction management, to unique di-electric and chemical properties. APM products are specified into a broad range of markets and end uses. Flagship and industry-leading brands under this business include:
- Teflon brand essential polymers with applications across multiple categories including electronics, communication and semiconductor infrastructure;
- Viton brand elastomers with broad application in markets from automotive to consumer electronics;
- Krytox perfluoropolyether lubricants and greases used in applications across multiple industries from aerospace to medical;
- Nafion ionomer membranes, dispersions and resins power chloralkali chemistry and sit at the core of the hydrogen economy – powering Fuel Cells and PEM electrolyzers.
Upon assuming her new role on March 1, 2021, Denise Dignam, president of Advanced Performance Materials, will become a member of Chemours Executive Team. She was appointed to lead the fluoropolymers business in November 2020 after demonstrating proven leadership across multiple areas including significant experience in commercialization, sales and marketing, strategy, supply chain and operations. Dignam previously led the restructuring of manufacturing as Vice President, Fluoroproducts Operations, and served as North American business leader for fluoropolymers and global business leader for NafionT and KrytoxT portfolios. A chemical engineer by training, she brings over 30-years of chemical industry experience to her new position.
“We are excited to have two high caliber industry experts like Alisha and Denise step into these important leadership roles to help us meet the evolving needs of our customers and deliver the next chapter of our continued growth and evolution,” said Mark Vergnano, President and CEO.