Michelman restructures business unit management

Michelman, a developer of water-based coatings and polymers, is making changes to its organizational structure.

Michelman’s corporate structure is broken into four business units: paper and corrugated, flexible packaging, fibers and composites and chemical specialties. Four new global business unit managers have been promoted from within, and will have responsibilities for all aspects of their respective divisions. Each will be supported by teams focused on different areas – sales, marketing and technology – and will have close contact with customers.

The four new global business managers are Steve Ruehrwein for chemical specialities; Dr Bruce Berglund for paper; Dr Yves De Smet for fibers and composites; and Bjarne Ry Schmidt for flexible packaging.

Additionally, three executives have been repositioned within the organization and will be responsible for sales, marketing and technology development respectively, across all business units. 

Marty Riehemann has been named VP/chief commercial officer and will be responsible for customer satisfaction in all four business units. 

Bob Poletti has been named VP/chief marketing and business development officer and will be responsible for corporate-wide marketing activities, as well as the exploration and development of new markets and opportunities. Poletti will also head a new initiative Michelman calls ‘Ventures’, which will include acquisitions, joint-ventures and all non-organic growth of the company. 

Rick Michelman has been appointed VP/chief technology officer and will be the driving force behind the company’s technology and materials development. 

Steve Shifman, Michelman’s president and CEO, said: ‘This is an aggressive and exciting strategy that considers the present as well as the future. We have placed a strong focus on the continued development of world-class technology, best-in-class materials and processes, organic growth, and growth through our Ventures initiative.’

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