Natalia Scherbakoff Joins Orion S.A. as Chief Technology Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals manufacturer, has appointed Natalia Scherbakoff as its new chief technology officer. She succeeds David Deters, who is retiring after leading Orion's global innovation program for nearly a decade. Scherbakoff joins from Trinseo, where she was vice president of Technology & Innovation, focusing on sustainability and circular solutions.

Scherbakoff brings extensive global experience in product development and commercialization. She will be based at Orion's main innovation hub in Cologne, Germany, overseeing technical centers in China, South Korea, and the U.S. Her role includes leveraging the new Battery Innovation Center in Cologne and overseeing a €12.8 million investment in developing climate-neutral carbon black production from alternative carbon sources.

Positive

• Appointment of experienced CTO with focus on sustainability and innovation
• Continuation of leadership in developing sustainable materials and battery additives
• €12.8 million investment in climate-neutral carbon black production technology
• New Battery Innovation Center in Cologne with full production, testing, and diagnostic equipment

Negative

• None.

Insights

Technology Innovation Expert

Natalia Scherbakoff's appointment as CTO of Orion S.A. signals a strategic focus on innovation and sustainability in the specialty chemicals sector. Her extensive experience in R&D, particularly in sustainable materials and circular solutions, aligns well with Orion's current initiatives, such as the €12.8 million investment in climate-neutral carbon black production.

This transition comes at a important time for Orion, as the company seeks to maintain its leadership in developing sustainable materials and battery additives. Scherbakoff's background in moving ideas from development to successful product launches could accelerate Orion's innovation pipeline, potentially leading to new revenue streams and market opportunities.

Her multilingual skills and global experience may also enhance Orion's ability to collaborate across its international technical centers, potentially improving R&D efficiency and market responsiveness. However, investors should monitor the transition period to ensure continuity in ongoing projects and maintain the innovation momentum built under David Deters' leadership.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals manufacturer, announced today that Natalia Scherbakoff has been appointed the company’s new chief technology officer.

She will succeed David Deters, who for nearly a decade led a global innovation program that made Orion a leader in developing sustainable materials, battery additives and other technology in the carbon black industry. Deters announced his retirement earlier this year and will remain with Orion through the end of 2024 to ensure a seamless transition.

Scherbakoff joins Orion from Trinseo, a specialty materials company, where she served as the vice president of Technology & Innovation, overseeing global research, development and technology innovation with sustainability and circular solutions being a key underlying focus. She also supported key growth initiatives as well as mergers and acquisitions. Scherbakoff was a member of Trinseo’s Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance Council.

“Natalia has broad global experience, a track record of moving ideas through the development process to successful product launches and commercial savvy. She combines strong people skills with a passion for driving innovation and achieving tangible outcomes,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “She is arriving at an exciting time here at Orion, and I am looking forward to her building on the success we have had under David’s leadership in batteries, circular products, coatings and other customer applications.”

Before Trinseo, Scherbakoff was the vice president of Research Innovation & Product Lines at Plastic Omnium, a French automotive supplier now known as OPmobility. She also served as the general manager of Specialty Composites and the director of Global Innovation at Owens Corning, a building materials maker.

Scherbakoff is a non-executive board member at specialty materials producer Clayens NP and is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council.

She holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Macromolecular Science from Case Western Reserve University (U.S.), a Chemical Engineering degree from Mauá Engineering University (Brazil) and an MBA from Getulio Vargas Foundation (Brazil). She is fluent in English, French, Portuguese, Italian and Russian.

Scherbakoff will be based at Orion’s main innovation hub in Cologne, Germany, and will also oversee the company’s technical centers in China, South Korea and the U.S. She will continue to build Orion’s innovation capabilities, including leveraging our new Battery Innovation Center in Cologne with a full array of production, testing and diagnostic equipment.

She will also oversee Orion’s €12.8 million investment – which includes €6.4 million in funding from the German government and European Union – to further develop and demonstrate a climate-neutral process for producing carbon black from alternative carbon sources. The technology is designed to improve Orion’s yield and throughput in the production of carbon black using circular feedstocks.

About Orion S.A.

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability and add UV protection. Orion has four innovation centers and produces carbon black at 15 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. For more information, please visit orioncarbons.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information, other than as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017149407/en/

William Foreman

Orion S.A.

Director of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs

william.foreman@orioncarbons.com

Direct: +1 281-889-7833

Christopher Kapsch

Orion S.A.

Vice President of Investor Relations

christopher.kapsch@orioncarbons.com

Direct: +1 281-974-0155

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.

FAQ

Who is the new Chief Technology Officer of Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC)?

Natalia Scherbakoff has been appointed as the new Chief Technology Officer of Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC), succeeding David Deters who is retiring.

What is Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) investing in for climate-neutral carbon black production?

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) is investing €12.8 million, including €6.4 million in funding from the German government and European Union, to develop and demonstrate a climate-neutral process for producing carbon black from alternative carbon sources.

Where will Natalia Scherbakoff be based as the new CTO of Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC)?

Natalia Scherbakoff will be based at Orion S.A.'s (NYSE: OEC) main innovation hub in Cologne, Germany, and will oversee the company's technical centers in China, South Korea, and the U.S.

What new facility does Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) have for battery innovation?

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) has a new Battery Innovation Center in Cologne, Germany, equipped with a full array of production, testing, and diagnostic equipment.