The new year will begin with new faces leading several of the lubricant industrys largest companies. Additive suppliers Infineum and Lubrizol have a new chief executive and chairman, respectively, while ChevronTexaco has appointed a new vice president for its base oil business.
Infineum announced Monday that former ExxonMobil Chemical Co. executive Dominique Fournier has been appointed chief executive officer, replacing A.J. Tony Gaskell, who is retiring at the end of this month. Fournier has 28 years of senior management experience in the chemical industry and is currently worldwide vice president,adhesion industry, for ExxonMobil Chemical. He will resign that position to join Infineum next month.
Gaskell has led Infineum since 1999 when Shell and ExxonMobil formed the joint venture by combining their lubricant and fuel additives businesses.
ChevronTexaco confirmed yesterday that it has named Andrew Tong vice president of global base oils, replacing Brian Chase who was named vice president of Asia-Pacific for ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants in October. Tong will be moving to the companys San Ramon, Calif., headquarters from Houston, where he was vice president of residual fuels. His appointment was effective Dec. 1.
Lubrizol said Monday that its board of directors has elected President and Chief Executive Officer James L. Hambrick to succeed William G. Bares as board chairman. The company had stated its intention to do so in March, after Hambrick replaced Bares in his other two posts.
Bares, 63,is retiring after 41 years with Lubrizol. Hambricks latest appointment is effective Jan.3.