Richard Rowe named Arkema North America CEO

Effective July 1, 2015, Arkema has named Richard Rowe as CEO of Arkema Inc., the group’s operations in North America. Rowe succeeds Bernard Roche, CEO since 2008, who is retiring after 42 years with the Arkema organization.

Rowe holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Bucknell University. He joined Ato-Findley in 1996, where he was global GM, nonwoven adhesives. In 1999, he moved to Atofina as regional group president performance polymers for North America. In 2002, he became VP supply chain in charge of purchasing and logistics at Arkema Inc.

Between 2004 and 2006, Rowe led both the Additives and Organic Peroxides Worldwide Business Units, and oversaw their merger. In 2007, he was named global group president for the Functional Additives business unit. In 2011, Rowe became global group president of Arkema’s Fluorochemicals business unit.