Polymers and chemicals maker NatureWorks appointed Erik Ripple as its new chief executive on Tuesday, amid the construction of new 75kta Ingeo, biopolymer manufacturing facility underway in Thailand.
Ripple, the newly appointed chief executive served in various leadership roles previously. Most recently, he was a chief strategy officer at Nexeon, battery manufacturer. Prior to which, he was chief growth officer at Ingevity, and also held other leadership roles with the South Carolina-based firm for about 13 years.
Ripple will be taking over the new position from Jill Zullo, interim CEO of NatureWorks. Zullo joined the company with the interim role, and she previously worked with Cargill, Leonardo Olive Oil maker for over two decades.
“We also extend our full gratitude to Jill Zullo for her exceptional leadership over the past eight months to the NatureWorks team,” said Narongsak Jivakanun, the company’s board chairperson.
“I’m looking forward to bringing together my background in developing nimble, creative teams and partnerships with the culture of innovation that has underscored NatureWorks’ growth and ambition in the biomaterials industry,” Ripple said.
Ripple will succeed Rich Altice, former executive chief of the company, who retired from the role in April 2023. He joined NatureWorks as CEO in early 2018, previously which, he worked as senior vice president in a chemical production firm called PolyOne, since May 2015.
The Minnesota-based NatureWorks was founded in 1997 and is jointly owned by PTT Global Chemical, Thailand’s one of the largest chemical producer and Cargill. The firm specializes in renewable source materials biopolymers, bioplastics, and biomaterials.
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