On 5 January 2012, Styron Europe (Horgen / Switzerland; www.styron.com) officially inaugurated its new European operating centre in Horgen, which will oversee business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. So far, the company’s more than 70 employees charged with EMEA sales and marketing as well as support had been working on the premises of former Styron owner Dow Chemical Europe (Horgen / Switzerland; www.dow.com), even though the styrenics arm was divested in mid-2010 (see Plasteurope.com of 21.06.2010).

Welcoming the move, Marco Levi, Styron Emulsion Polymers vice president and general manager, said it constituted an important step for the company’s future as an independent entity. Aside from the new centre in Horgen, Styron also operates a state-of-the-art latex pilot coating plant in Samstagern / Switzerland.

Meanwhile, over in the US, the group has announced the appointment of John Feenan as new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective 16 January 2012. Feenan, who joins Styron (USA: Midland, Michigan; www.styron.com) from JMC Steel Company, will become part of the group’s executive leadership team. He will be located at the company’s global operating centre in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.

When announcing Feenan’s appointment, Styron also reiterated its intention to change its name to Trinseo later this year – see also Plasteurope.com of 14.04.2011.