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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.

Barentz has announced Derk Jan Terhorst has been appointed as Group CEO, taking over from Terry Hill who served as Interim CEO since May 2024.

Terhost brings more than three years of experience as Group CFO, during which he played a key role in formulating Barentz strategy. Before joining Barentz, he held senior management positions at Ahold Delhaize and Tony’s Chocolonely.

“I look forward to building on our strong foundations and leading Barentz through the next chapter of growth, as we strive to become a global leader in the specialty ingredients sector,” Terhost said.

Terhost will continue to assume CFO responsibilities until a new CFO begins May 1.

Covestro has announced the appointment of Monique Buch as its new chief commercial officer (CCO). Buch will take over June 1 from Sucheta Govil, who has served as CCO since 2019. Her two consecutive terms end July 31.

As CCO, Buch will oversee the Solutions & Specialties segment, leading six business entities, including the supply chain centers in the three major regions.

Previously, Buch was executive vice president, Nonwoven, at Lenzing AG. Prior to that role, she held various executive positions in international B2B companies, including Freudenberg Performance Materials and Owens Corning.

“I am very much looking forward to join the transformation journey by driving profitable growth, along with the whole Covestro team and my new colleagues on the Managing Board,” said Buch.

BYK announced the appointment of Michael Schmidt as its new chief technology officer (CTO) and global head of research and development.

Schmidt began his career at Bayer AG in 2001 after earning a Ph.D. in polymer science. In 2021, he was awarded an advisory professorship at Donghua University in Shanghai, China. After holding various management positions in Germany and abroad, he was appointed global head of innovation for the Thermoplastic Polyurethane Business Unit at Covestro in 2023.

In his new role, Schmidt will lead global research and development activities, working closely with all BYK business units and external innovation ecosystems to develop differentiating, value-adding additive solutions. His focus will include advancing sustainable product and process innovation, driving digital transformation in R&D, and translating regulatory requirements into innovative products.

WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS has appointed Mathias Wiedemann as president, succeeding Susanne Leonhartsberger, who left the company at her own request at the end of 2024.

Wiedemann holds a doctorate in engineering, having studied engineering and business administration at the University of Bremen. He joined WACKER in 2011as a project engineer and has held several specialist and managerial positions in Germany and abroad.

Vibrantz Technologies has announced that president and CEO D. Michael Wilson will step down from his role January 31. Wilson will continue to serve as a non-executive director on the company’s board. In partnership with private equity partner American Securities LLC, Vibrantz has initiated a search for its next chief executive.

During his nearly three-year tenure, Wilson led the organization’s large-scale integration of Prince, Chromaflo, and Ferro, transforming Vibrantz into a $2 billion specialty chemicals and materials company.

PPG has appointed Denise Lu Jing Lyu as vice president of Global Packaging Coatings.

Lyu most recently served as general manager, Industrial Coatings, Asia Pacific. During her 17-year tenure at PPG, she has held various leadership roles, including the global marketing director for PPG’s Automotive Refinish business and the director of corporate strategy and development for PPG Asia Pacific. She has also held business development roles in architectural coatings and PMC.

Lyu has an MBA from the University of Hong Kong.

Admix, Inc., has appointed Jonas Öberg as managing director for its European operations based in Fredensborg, Denmark. A native of Sweden, Öberg brings a wealth of international industrial experience.

Over the past 16 years, Öberg has held numerous leadership positions, overseeing manufacturing sites and commercial operations in Sweden, Denmark, China, Japan, and the United States. His extensive professional background encompasses roles in sales and sales management, application engineering, and research and development.

Öberg holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA. Before joining Admix, he served as President of Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions in the United States from 2017 to 2024.

Evonik has announced the appointment of Lauren Kjeldsen and Claudine Mollenkopf to its Executive Board, effective April 1.

Kjeldsen will oversee the Custom Solutions segment, along with responsibilities for innovation and the Americas region. Mollenkopf will lead the Advanced Technologies segment while also managing the Asia-Pacific region.

Both will succeed Harald Schwager, who is retiring.

The ChemQuest Group has appointed Benjamin Murad as director of Information Technology.

Murad will be responsible for all aspects of the firm’s information technology-related needs. He brings expertise developed in roles ranging from operations analyst and solutions engineer to software solutions development manager and director of technology for organizations such as Teleflex, Rise Against Hunger, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cisco.