KINGSPORT, Tenn.—Materials supplier Eastman Chemical Co. is making some changes to its management ranks.
In one of those moves, longtime executive Mark Cox will retire at the end of the year. Cox has been with Eastman for 35 years and serves as the firm's senior vice president and chief manufacturing, supply chain and engineering officer.
"It is with mixed emotions that we announce Mark's retirement after more than 35 years of service," Board Chair and CEO Mark Costa said in a release.
"Mark has made a lasting impact on Eastman, and nowhere is that felt more deeply than in our manufacturing, engineering and construction and supply chain organizations," he added. "With a focus on safety and reliability, he has led these teams through enormous change and challenges, transforming them to be even stronger, more efficient and effective in an increasingly competitive environment."
Cox said in the release that "it has been one of my greatest pleasures to serve Eastman for the better part of my life."
"I am grateful to the many who helped shape and guide my career, and to the wonderful people that I had the good fortune to work with for the past 35 years," he added.
Eastman recently announced it was divesting the tire additives business as part of what the company describes as an ongoing effort to improve its Additives & Functional Products segment.
In other moves, executives Stephen Crawford, Julie McAlindon and Christopher Killian will have new roles with Eastman.
Crawford, currently chief technology and sustainability officer and a senior vice president, has been named an executive vice president. In that new role, he'll assume executive leadership of manufacturing and worldwide engineering and construction upon Cox's retirement.
McAlindon, who was chief procurement officer and vice president, transformation, is now senior vice president, supply chain, regions and transformation. She joined Eastman in 2016 and has more than 25 years of industry experience, including stints with Dow and Avient Corp.
Killian is now senior vice president and chief technology officer. He most recently served as vice president, additives & functional products, chemical intermediates and corporate technology. Killian has been with Eastman since 1996.
Costa said that McAlindon and Killian "are well respected for their pragmatic leadership and for their dedication to transforming Eastman into a leading material innovation company."
He added that they "have been instrumental in driving Eastman's innovation-driven growth strategy and to fostering stronger collaboration between our commercial and technology teams."
Eastman makes Tritan-brand copolyester, as well as other specialty plastics and chemicals. The firm employs 14,500 worldwide and posted sales of $8.5 billion in 2020.
