CANADA – Plastics and chemical company Nova Chemicals has appointed chemical industry veteran Roger Kearns as its new president and CEO effective June 12.
Kearns succeeds Danny Dweik, who has served as Nova’s interim president and CEO since October 2022.
In his new role, Kearns will accelerate the implementation of the company’s vision to become North America’s leading sustainable polyethylene producer.
Prior to this role, Kearns served as the chief operating officer of material supplier Westlake Corp.
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, Nova chairman said: “Roger has impeccable industry knowledge, operational depth and a proven track record in driving performance improvements, combined with the ability to mobilize and lead large organizations.
“We are confident he’ll deliver Nova’s 2030 vision of becoming North America’s leading sustainable [PE] producer.”
Commenting on his appointment, Kearns said: “NOVA Chemicals consistently proves its ability to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges, and I am thrilled to lead the company towards a more sustainable future.
“Driving forward with purpose and passion will unlock new possibilities, fuel growth, and create value for our customers, employees, and communities. Together we will shape the future of our industry and make a positive impact in the world.”
During his tenure at Westlake, which began in 2018, he also served as executive vice president, performance and essential materials, where he led the acquisition of Hexion’s global epoxy business, and as executive vice president of vinyl chemicals.
Kearns holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Stanford.
He spent the first part of his career at Solvay, where he held progressively senior roles on both the operational and investment sides of the business and across a number of international markets including the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
As part of this plan, last month Nova announced an investment of up to US$4 billion on sustainable and circular projects in a new ESG (environmental, social and governance) campaign. By 2030, Nova plans to generate 30 percent of its PE sales from recycled content.
Meanwhile, in February, Nova Chemicals unveiled a new line of business, NOVA Circular Solutions, to develop and sell a range of low-emission recycled polyethylene (rPE) solutions.
The Canadian company expects the new business line to make polyethylene production more sustainable and help meet North America’s expanding need for recycled goods.
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