Elkem names leader for silicone division

OSLO—Elkem will look to Larry Zhang to lead the silicones division for the silicon metal, monomer and specialty compound manufacturer.

Effective immediately, Zhang will take over as senior vice president for the division. He will be based in Shanghai, China.

"Elkem pursues a strategy of growth through operational excellence and increased specialization, and this will continue in the silicones division under Larry's strong leadership," said Helge Aasen, CEO of Elkem. "Silicones will also continue to develop and grow both in China and the rest of the world, supported by megatrends such as the green transition and the rise of middle class worldwide.

Aasen called Zhang a "committed business leader."

"I very much look forward to having him as a member of Elkem's corporate management team," he said. "With this change, our corporate management represents five nationalities from three continents, further reflecting Elkem's diverse global organization."

Zhang previously served as vice president of operations (silicones) in the Asia-Pacific region.

Elkem said in April that it would invest about $387.8 million in silicone production in China at its Xinghuo Silicones plant, which features environmentally-friendly production technology.

In July 2021, Elkem disclosed a $26.3 million investment in a research and development center in Saint-Fons in Lyon, part of that region's "Chemical Valley."

The R&D center will focus on product circularity, e-mobility and digitization.

And in October, Elkem invested another $40 million in upstream "intermediate silicone unit" capacity expansion in Roussillon, France, a facility that in February received financial support from the French government.

The company produces refined silicon metal, upstream monomer and downstream silicone specialty compounds for the manufactured goods, construction, electronics, consumer-facing and e-mobility markets.

The silicones division at Elkem comprises more than 4,400 employees across 14 international production sites and 13 research and development centers.

Revenues in 2021 for Elkem were about $1.8 billion.