Board of Directors

John was appointed a Non-Executive Chair and Chair of the Nomination Committee on 1 September 2021. John joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 4 February 2020 and was appointed Senior Independent Director on 29 April 2020 prior to his appointment as Chair.

Skills, experience and contribution

John served as chief executive of Spectris plc from January 2006 to September 2018, leading the business through a period of significant strategic transformation and development. Prior to Spectris plc, John spent 14 years at Honeywell International in a number of senior management roles including Chairman of Honeywell Automation India and President of Automation & Control for Asia- Pacific. His early career was spent at Daimler Benz A.G. as a research and development engineer.

Previous non-executive director roles include Exide Technologies, a US based supplier of battery technology to automotive and industrial users (from 2010 to 2015).

John holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University (USA) and an MBA from INSEAD.

Committee membership

Chair of the Nomination Committee and member of the Remuneration Committee

External appointments

• Trustee of the Wincott Foundation
• Non-executive director of Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc
• Non-executive director of Johnson Matthey plc and a member of the audit, nomination and remuneration committees
• Advisor to Envea Global, a market leader in environmental air and emissions measurement and majority owned by The Carlyle Group

Paul has a proven track record in developing markets, products and opportunities for creating value, business optimisation and transformation. Paul’s global experience provides the skill set required to deliver the Company’s strategy and provide inspiring leadership. Prior to joining Elementis, Paul was global CEO of the BP Lubricants business in 2013 after having overseen the BP Australia/New Zealand downstream business. In 2010, Paul was country president of Australia. Prior to this he was CEO of BP’s global aviation, industrial, marine and energy lubricants businesses (2009 to 2010) and CEO of BP Lubricants Americas (2007 to 2009). He joined BP after it acquired Burmah-Castrol in 2000, having joined the latter in 1994 after roles at Reckitt Benckiser and Kraft Foods. Paul holds a BSc in Packaging Engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University, Stern School of Business.

Ralph was appointed CFO-Designate and Executive Director on 12 September 2016 and became the Elementis Group CFO on 1 November 2016.

Ralph is an accomplished CFO who has a strong track record in finance, strategy development and implementation, and M&A which enables him to provide effective financial leadership to underpin the delivery of the Reignite Growth strategy.

Ralph had a 30 year career with BP, where he held a number of significant leadership positions, including roles in financial management, sales and marketing, corporate development, M&A, strategy and planning. In 2010, Ralph was CFO of BP Lubricants and served on the board of Castrol India Limited from 2010 until 2016.

Ralph holds an MA in Modern History and Economics from the University of Oxford and an MBA from INSEAD.

Trudy was appointed non-executive director on 15 March 2022.

Skills, experience and contribution

Trudy has over 30 years’ experience of work as a Senior Independent Director in the chemicals, engineering and high performance product sectors. Having built her executive career with global organisations such as Shell, Wärtsilä and Akzo Nobel, she brings a strong international perspective and a proven track record for driving sustainability through innovation.

In addition, Trudy has strong operational knowledge, gained during her time at Shell as Production Manager at the Pernis refinery in the Netherlands, the largest refinery in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Trudy currently serves as a non-executive director and senior independent director of Accsys Technologies plc (AIM listed sustainable building materials business), a supervisory board member of SPIE SA (a listed technical services business) and as a non-executive director and senior independent director of TI Fluid Systems plc (a listed global manufacturer of automotive systems). Trudy previously served as a board member of The Netherlands Petroleum Stockpiling Agency (COVA) (2011-2021), non-executive director and senior independent director at Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc (2012-2021), non-executive director and senior independent director of Low and Bonar plc (2013-2020) and as a supervisory board member of Avantium N.V. (2020-2022).

Trudy has a Ph.D in Technical Physics from the Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands) and holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering.

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

External appointments

• Non-executive director, senior independent director and chair of Accsys Technologies plc
• Independent Director of SPIE SA
• Senior Independent Director of TI Fluid Systems plc

Steve joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 20 October 2014 and became Chair of the Remuneration Committee on 25 April 2017.

Skills, experience and contribution

Steve has strong and relevant international experience in specialty chemicals businesses, manufacturing and diverse industrial markets which enables him to provide guidance and challenge to management. Steve’s involvement with remuneration committees in other organisations enable him to provide judgement and knowledge of topical remuneration matters in his capacity as Remuneration Committee chair.

Steve was chief executive of Low & Bonar plc between September 2009 and September 2014. Prior to that role, he was managing director of its technical textiles division between 2006 and 2009, director of new business between 2005 and 2006, and managing director of its plastics division between 2004 and 2005. Prior to joining Low & Bonar, he spent 10 years with BTP plc (now part of Clariant) in a variety of leadership positions managing international specialty chemicals businesses. Steve served as non-executive director and chairman of the remuneration committee of Cape plc from July 2015 to September 2017, non-executive director of Anglian Water Services and member of the audit committee, nomination committee and remuneration committee from April 2015 to October 2018 and non-executive director of Dialight plc from June 2018 to March 2020.

Steve holds a degree in Economics and Financial Management from Sheffield University. He is a chartered accountant.

Committee membership

Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Nomination Committee

External appointments

• Non-executive director and non-executive board chair of Norcros plc (from July 2023)

Dorothee was appointed a Non-Executive Director on 1 March 2017.

Skills, experience and contribution

Dorothee provides the Board with valuable insight into the wider European chemicals sector as well as sector specific acquisition expertise. 

Dorothee manages her own corporate advisory consultancy serving a number of European clients in the pharma/biotech sector. She is active in various industry bodies. Her previous executive roles included managing director and head of Corporate Advisory Group (Europe) at UBS in Zurich, head of M&A chemicals and healthcare at a private investment bank in Germany and as a senior executive in the corporate finance department at the Roche Group. Dorothee served as non-executive director of the supervisory board of Bilfinger SE and member of the audit committee (May 2016 - May 2021).

Dorothee holds a master’s degree in Chemistry from the Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg and an MBA from INSEAD.

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

External appointments

• Non-executive director of Temenos AG (from May 2023)

Christine was appointed a Non-Executive Director on 1 November 2020, is the Designated Non-Executive Director for workforce engagement and became Chair of the Audit Committee on 26 April 2022.

Skills, experience and contribution

Christine brings significant experience of innovation and the commercialisation of technology to the Board. Christine is an experienced CFO with a strong track record from leading a range of private and public companies rooted in innovation with a particular focus on biotechnology, life sciences and pharmaceutical products.

From 2015 until February 2020 she was CFO and Company Secretary of Acacia Pharma Group plc, a public quoted provider of pharmaceutical products designed to improve the outcomes and recovery for surgical patients. Prior to Acacia Pharma Group plc, Christine served as CFO and then non-executive Director of AIM-listed Electrical Geodesics, Inc., which was acquired by Philips NV in 2017. Other CFO and finance leadership roles include Optos plc, BTG plc (former FTSE250 constituent), Oxagen Limited and Celltech Chiroscience Group plc, having started her life-sciences career as Financial Controller of Medeva plc.

Christine has previously served as chair of the audit committee at e-therapeutics plc, an AIM listed technology based drug discovery platform from 2017 to February 2020 and at Provalis plc, a quoted healthcare business from 2000 to 2005. She was also non-executive director of Futurenova Limited, a provider of antimicrobial cases for ipads and iphones from 2017 to 2021.

Christine is a chartered accountant and holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Durham.

Committee membership

Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee 

External appointments

• Non-executive director of Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (since October 2020)
• Non-executive director of Arecor Therapeutics plc (since May 2021)

Clement was appointed a Non-Executive Director on 1 December 2022.

Skills, experience and contribution

Clement brings broad managerial experience in global technology and consumer-related industries. He has a strong track record of renewing traditional industries and revitalising growth through strategic interventions and in-depth experience and knowledge of markets in the Asia Pacific region.

Clement was Group CEO of Saurer Intelligent Technology Co Ltd, a €1 billion textile machinery and components business listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, between August 2016 and March 2020. Clement continued to serve on the board of Saurer as non-executive director until August 2021. Between March 2021 and January 2023, Clement served as Chairman of PFI Foods Industries Pte. Ltd. 

Between April 2014 and July 2016, Clement was Advisor and Co-CEO of Jinsheng Industry Co. Ltd, an industrial company in China with diverse interests including biotech, automotive and textiles. Clement also previously held various senior positions at companies based in Switzerland and Singapore including Division CEO of Leica Geosystems AG, President & CEO of SATS Ltd, and CEO Textile Division of OC Oerlikon AG.

Clement holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering and a BEng in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, as well as an MBA in Technology Management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee 

External appointments

• Non-independent Non-Executive Director of PFI Foods Industries Pte. Ltd
• Non-Executive Director of Morgan Advanced Materials plc

Maria was appointed a Non-Executive Director on 11 March 2024.

Skills, experience and contribution

Maria’s professional experience spans over 35 years in the petrochemical industry and includes roles in manufacturing, R&D, commercial and business management. She worked at The Dow Chemical Company, Columbia Gas of Ohio and Container Corporation of America in the USA. She also spent over a decade in global leadership roles in Europe, with Celanese, General Electric Plastics (now owned by SABIC) and Borealis, where her last role was Commercial Vice President for Borealis’ Global Specialty Solutions Business.

Since 2022, Maria has held the role of President for the USA & Canada business of Royal Vopak, a global, independent infrastructure provider. Maria sits on the board of Vopak’s USA and Canadian joint ventures, which include Vopak Industrial Infrastructure Americas, Vopak Exolum Houston, Vopak Energy Storage Texas, Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal and Ridley Island Energy Export Facility. 

Maria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration – both from The Ohio State University. 
 

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

Heejae was appointed a Non-Executive Director on 25 March 2024.

Skills, experience and contribution

Heejae served as Chief Executive of Scapa Group plc, a global supplier of products for healthcare and industrial markets, for twelve years, until its sale in 2021. Prior to joining Scapa Group plc, he held roles as Group Chief Executive of Volex Group plc, and was the Group General Manager, Radio Frequency Worldwide, for Amphenol Corporation. Heejae spent the early part of his career in finance at The Blackstone Group and Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette, before moving into industry.

Heejae holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Columbia University, and an MBA from Harvard University.
  

Committee membership

Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee

External appointments

• Non-Executive Director of IP Group plc and chair of the IP Group remuneration committee
• Executive Chairman of Sys Group plc
   

Anna has responsibility for all legal and compliance matters across the Group and is the Group Company Secretary. Anna also serves as the Group’s Chief Compliance Officer and chairs the Ethics & Compliance Council. She has extensive international experience gained through holding senior legal positions in companies across diverse sectors including Rolls-Royce plc, Johnson Matthey plc and Kingfisher plc. She qualified as a solicitor at Allen & Overy LLP and holds a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice from BPP Law School and is an Associate of the Chartered Governance Institute.