Malaysias national oil company Petronas named Hans Groen managing director for its Dutch subsidiary and head of European base oil marketing; Houston-based Kraton Polymer LLC appointed Kevin Fogarty as president and chief executive officer; and consultancy Kline& Co. promoted Geeta Agashe to vice president, petroleum and energy.
Petronas Base Oil (M) Sdn Bhd announced the Jan. 2 hiring of Groen as managing director of its wholly owned Dutch subsidiary Petronas Marketing (Netherlands) BV, which will manage the distribution and marketing of Etro brand Group III base oils in the European market.
Groen has many years of experience in the logistic and marketing of base oils in Europe. He will be forming a team of logistic, technical and sales people to work out of the Petronas building recently acquired on the outskirts of Rotterdam.
Petronas new Group III base oil plant in Melaka, Malaysia, is expected to come online this year, with capacity to produce 270,000 metric tons per year of API Group III base oils and another 70,000 t/y of Group II. The plant will initially produce two grades of Etro-branded Group II stocks – 4 centiStoke and 6 cSt. Last fall, Petronas acquired Italian automotive lubricant blender FL Selenia for 1 billion (U.S. $1.5 billion).
The board of directors of Houston-based Kraton Polymer LLC announced the appointment of Kevin Fogarty as president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 14. He succeeded George Gregory, who will serve as an advisor to the company through June 30. In addition, David Bradley has been appointed chief operating officer, also effective Jan. 14.
Kraton produces SBS, SEBS and SEPS polymers used in lubricants and other applications ranging from personal care to paving. The company has production facilities in the United States, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Brazil and Japan.
Little Falls, N.J.-based Kline& Co. on Thursday announced the promotion of international lubricant and specialty products and markets expert Geeta Agashe from director to vice president of its petroleum and energy practice. The move recognized Agashes work to expand the practice on a global scale to serve the needs of its international clients. She has been with the company since 1996.