Page 136 - CW E-Magazine (28-11-2023)

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LEADERSHIP CHANGE

Dr. Ashish Khandpur appointed as Avient’s CEO

US-based polymer materials fi rm, that knowledge over several decades
Avient Corporation, has announced the to help pioneer a host of new products
appointment of Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur for 3M,” said Mr. Richard Fearon,
as President and Chief Executive Lead Independent Director, who was
Offi cer, effective December 1, 2023. appointed as Non-Executive Chairman
of the Board, also effective Decem-
Avient was originally established ber 1, 2023.
as PolyOne Corporation in 2000
through the consolidation of two com- “Now that Avient’s portfolio has
panies in the materials industry. It was been repositioned to be 100 percent
rebranded as Avient in 2020 following speciality materials, Ashish’s deep
the purchase of the colour masterbatch technical expertise and demonstrated
businesses of Clariant and Clariant commercial success in building and
Chemicals India Ltd. In 2022, the Engineering from the Indian Institute growing businesses makes him the
company acquired the protective mate- of Technology, Delhi and a Ph.D in ideal leader to take Avient to the next
rials business of DSM, including the Chemical Engineering from the level of performance,” he added.
Dyneema brand. University of Minnesota.
Mr. Robert Patterson, the current
Dr. Khandpur joined Avient after “Ashish is one of the world’s lead- President and CEO will retire from
nearly three decades at 3M, where he ing experts in polymers and materials, these roles and resign from the Board.
began in R&D and technology roles, having earned undergraduate and docto- He will remain with the company
ultimately ascending to Chief Techno- rate degrees in chemical engineering through May 31, 2024 in an advisory
logy Offi cer. He holds a Bachelor’s at two of the world’s leading chemical capacity to help facilitate the leadership
of Technology degree in Chemical engineering universities, and then used transition.

TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE

Kumar Organic Products Research Centre opens

Cell Biology Lab

Kumar Organic Products Research process, Hindustan Petroleum Green and innovative investigative models.
Centre, the research arm of Kumar R&D Centre; Prof. K.S. Rajanandam, By delving into cell-based assays, the
Organic Products Pvt. Ltd. (KOPL), Director, KOPL; Mr. Udayan Kumar lab can shed light on safety and effi cacy
a leading supplier of speciality ingre- Singh, Managing Director, KOPL; and of cosmetic formulations, offer invalu-
dients for personal care, has opened a Mr. Vinay Kumar Singh, Head-Formu- able insights and pave the way for safer,
Cell Biology Laboratory at its premises lation, Kumar Organic Products Re- more effective products.
in Bangalore. search Centre.
The lab will use cultures of human
The lab was inaugurated by Dr. KOPL has been producing and mar- skin cells for tests investigating irrita-
Samir K. Brahmachari, Former Direc- keting bio-ferments & speciality ingre- tion of the skin; evaluate skin regene-
tor General, CSIR on 15th November dients for skin & hair care products. ration effi cacy; apart from cytotoxicity
2023, in the presence of other dignita- The Cell Biology Lab has been created and genotoxicity tests. Experimenting
ries including: Prof. Yogesh Shouche, to conduct tests on these ingredients to on human cell cultures presents the
Honorary Scientist, National Centre for prove its worth. The lab is equipped to advantage of eliminating animal studies
Cell Science, Pune; Dr. Ramachandra work on skin cells and can carry out for the determination of the biological
Rao B, Chief General Manager, and research in skin biology aimed at deve- action of a substance and for evaluating
Dr. Anu Jose Mattom, Manager Bio- loping cosmetic substantiation tests its dose/response effect.

136 Chemical Weekly November 28, 2023

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