KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.—Arkema Inc., the North American unit of Arkema S.A., has named Richard Rowe its CEO effective July 1.
Rowe succeeds Bernard Roche, who is retiring after 42 years with the firm and served as Arkema Inc. CEO since 2008.
Rowe joined Ato-Findley in 1996 as global general manager of nonwoven adhesives. He moved to Atofina in 1999 as regional group president for performance polymers in North America.
He joined Arkema in 2002 when he became vice president, supply chain in charge of purchasing and logistics, then between 2004-06 he led the firm's additives and organic peroxides worldwide business units and oversaw their merger.
Rowe was appointed global group president for the Functional Additives business unit in 2007, then became global group president for Arkema's Fluorochemicals business unit in 2011.
Based in Colombes, France, Arkema is a global chemicals and adhesives provider with operations in 50 countries and about 19,000 employees. It said it generates pro forma annual revenue of about $8.24 billion.
Its North America unit is headquartered in King of Prussia.