Meet the Team

Midwest Region, United States of America

Amanda Adams has worked in the coatings and adhesives area for her entire career. During her career, she transitioned from technical to commercial roles, improving her skills in both areas. Amanda initially worked in a technical service laboratory to improve corrosion resistance in different systems and, after it, had the opportunity to have more interaction with customers working in technical development and support areas. Amanda went back to Research and Development where she started to develop water and solvent based coatings for corrosion resistance, as well as chemical resistant coatings.

Croda Journey

In her role, Amanda helps customers to find the balance between performance and cost, “To me this is the biggest challenge our customers face. I pull from my formulating experience to help customers find this balance” she explains.

One technology that Amanda recommends for her customers who work with emulsion polymerisations is our Maxemul Reactive Surfactants. “This technology can overcome the historic problems they have faced such as water whitening, poor adhesion, and low water resistance.  As environmental regulations continue to impact coatings, water based systems are being pushed to deliver higher performance and be used in new applications. The Maxemul 5000 and 6000 range can help our customers meet these challenges” she says.

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

“I love being a part of team that truly communicates and shares knowledge around the globe and take our customer’s innovations to the next level”

Gouda, The Netherlands

Career

Angela Smits studied Chemical Engineering and Chemistry and has a PhD in biopolymers. In her career so far, she has worked for multinationals in the adhesives and coatings industry, visiting customers, developing new products and bringing these to the market.

Croda Journey

Angela has been working at Croda since 2005 bringing innovative solutions to our lives. “I work on projects with great enthusiasm and it feels good to see ideas develop into products, and then work with customers to see them used in real applications.  These applications include bio-based Priplast polyols for durable multi-substrate adhesives and B-Tough for impact resistant structural adhesives, coatings and composites”

In her work, she combines her understanding of polymer chemistry with market and applications knowledge of adhesives and plastics. She has also developed great expertise in regulatory affairs and sustainability.

Angela says “Sustainability is beyond a trend, it is our second nature, and at Croda we are constantly working to support customers by developing bio-based materials for a low carbon footprint, extending product lifetimes, and enabling lightweight constructions for reduced fuel consumption”.

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

I very much enjoy working with people from various functions like Marketing, Sales, R&D, Manufacturing, IP and Regulatory Affairs, with shared enthusiasm and drive for success. 

Latin America

Carlos graduated in Chemistry and started his career working as technical support for Home Care. A few years later he became a Sales Representative working with epoxies and polyurethane for the Power and Electronics business. Carlos enjoyed the commercial experience and completed a post-graduate study in Marketing. 

Carlos, better known as Cadu, has worked at Croda since 2011. During his first four years in the company, he had the opportunity to develop his abilities managing the Brazilian sales team. His deep knowledge of the Coatings and Polymers business led to him becoming responsible for this market in 2016 in Latin America: “I am in the beginning of this new journey, but I already know that as always, there is a lot to learn and improve”. In this role he supports the development of new business, working together with several departments in Croda, especially the Sales and Marketing teams. He is responsible for the delivery of the sales targets in the region: “this was a very exciting move with new challenges, the main one being to lead a sales team across the Latin America region.”

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

“Applications for Coatings and Polymers products are very technical and innovative, and when visiting a customer you have a number of different ways to support their business. This unique characteristic of Coatings and Polymers allows you to learn new things every day, so it is an excellent area for someone curious and keen to diversify their knowledge such as myself.”

Latin America

Diego decided to become a scientist because he found that he always questioned the reason of the things and he believed that, as a scientist, he could find the answers.  In 2011, he completed his Chemistry education and started at Croda Brazil in the synthesis team, being involved in technology transfer and development of key products for local manufacturing, covering all markets.

Croda journey

In 2015, Croda decided to invest in a new application laboratory in Latin America for its Performance Technologies and Industrial Chemicals business and Diego was appointed as Application Scientist managing this project. Since then, Diego has spent considerable time in our laboratories in the USA and Europe to acquire further experience in Coatings and Polymers technologies.

“It was a great opportunity to get in touch with our specialists around the world and really feel part of the global team!”  

His role consists of working on global and regional projects to support sales and marketing in Latin America, as well as providing solutions to customers’ inquiries. Latin America is becoming more and more aware of environmental issues “VOC free formulations and renewable raw materials are a trend in the market. The industry is also concerned about going green alongside improving products’ performance. Our portfolio and new developments aim to offer eco-friendly solutions with proven high performance to our customers.”

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

 “I am amazed by the opportunity to look for creative solutions and the intellectual stimulation to think out of the box. I really enjoy being part of a truly global group that is always willing to share knowledge and experience”.

Mumbai, India

Jagdish Liladhar Patil first came into contact with polymers in his chemistry education and it aroused in him a deep interest in understanding the applications and technology of polymers. His polymer journey continued into his post-graduation and then into a doctorate degree; a PhD in Polymer Technology. Jagdish has great experience in the industry, having spent more than 10 years leading Research & Development, as well as Technical Service teams. He is also part of industrial and educational associations, which helps him to be innovative in his work and to develop new products by understanding market and customer requirements.

Croda Journey

Jagdish has an in-depth knowledge of polymer chemistry and a very good overview of customer’s expectations of product performance. “Understanding both of these aspects improves communication with customers. The direct implementation of customer’s ideology in the lab and reverting to the customer with solutions leads to quick and to-the-point action and customer support” he explains.

Understanding customer requirements and offering solutions is an important and critical part in the specialty/performance chemicals business. This can be an even bigger challenge in Asia Pacific region, due to the large size and high level of diversity in markets in the region. “The Asia Pacific region is home to about 62 percent of the total global population!”

Working in Technical Service allows me to travel to various places and meet many new people, all with different backgrounds. I really enjoy learning and understanding all of these new, varied and multicultural aspects. Also, leading the lab team allows me to handle lot of technical challenges for customers which is very rewarding.

Latin America

Lygia Bruni first graduated in Journalism before completing a post-graduate education in Communications. She has worked in a variety of companies and industries such as television, corporate video producing and kitchen appliances. “I feel that my previous experience was preparing me to arrive at Croda! All of the knowledge I have from different business sectors helps me to understand and do a better job with Coatings & Polymers, and the other five markets that I work for in Latin America”

Croda Journey

Lygia works in marketing in Latin America for the Industrial division, which corresponds to the following business sectors: Coatings & Polymers, Polymer Additives, Home Care, Lubricants, Geo technologies and Industrial Chemicals. “The dynamic work with different businesses is really exciting and gives a macro market view” she explains. Lygia has experience in organising Croda’s exhibiting at trade shows, creating customer communications and undertaking market research. Her biggest challenge is to complete all of these activities in a creative way – “when I'm creating something, I always force myself to have a creative idea that delivers not only a message, but an experience for the customer”.

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

In marketing, you are in contact with market trends and innovation all of the time. What is fascinating to me is that you can use our products in so many different applications and we always have products that can add value in your products.

Germany, Austria & Switzerland

The area of chemistry was not Maarten’s initial choice; he started studying mechanical engineering at University of Applied Science before changing to chemical engineering. Looking back he can say that it was the right change and the right choice! Maarten did part of his industrial placement year at our site in The Netherlands and after graduation he applied for a job at the company: “I have been working for Croda for the whole of my career”.

Maarten started working for Croda in 1980 in process development. He was involved with transforming new products from Gouda´s R&D into Pilot Plant and into production, as well as making products on small scale from 10 kg up to 1000 kg scale. After 8 years, he moved to the R&D labs, working on product development in the areas of dimer fatty acids, fatty acid amides and later on started development of our “Priplast” range of products for polyurethane (PU) applications. This was a new area for the company at that time: “I started gathering application knowledge on polyurethane applications and consequently became a specialist in PU”.

North America

Marc Chan studied Environmental Science and Chemical Engineering. While at university, he had a position as a metalworking fluid program manager at a powertrain facility. He changed to sales area as soon as he graduated and started to work in sales with a water treatment company focusing on polymers. During his professional journey, Marc worked in Chemicals Company and has an extensive knowledge of the Automotive OEM market.

Marc Joined Croda in 2016, with the purpose to work with the global team in the Reactive Surfactants project. “Our focus will be to support the architectural, direct to metal, pressure sensitive adhesive and elastomeric market segments to integrate advanced emulsion formulations to provide performance”.
Performance and sustainability are an important combination and Marc also has the challenge to align the reactive surfactants project with the company’s new investments. Croda is creating the first North American plant that will that will lead to the production of 100% renewable anionic and non-ionic surfactants and active emulsifying agents. These bio-based products will allow Croda to strike the balance between high performance and fully renewable ingredients. Marc says “It will present a vast opportunity to provide renewable products to industry while serving the eco-trends the market demands”.

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

I enjoy mostly the collaboration with customers in building technology solutions and sustainable business relationships.

Italy

In 2009, Marco Somaini attended University di Pavia where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences and two years later, he completed his Bachelor Degree in Chemistry. His thesis was to improve the properties of shellac coatings used for the production/restoration of musical instruments.

During his career, the transition from technical to commercial took some time, but actually came very naturally to him.

“I started to work in an R&D department because it was the closest position to the lab work I was doing at University. After a couple of years, I realised I was more interested in seeing how the product was used by the customer, so I moved towards technical assistance. After building some experience in front of customers, I followed my inclination and I applied to Croda as a Sales Rep, because the position combined technical matters, sales activity and presence with customers” explains Marco.

Croda Journey

Marco started in Croda in 2015 as a Sales Representative and takes care of our Italian market, supporting existing customers and engaging with new ones by introducing our speciality, high performance and green solutions. 

A product that Marco would highly recommend is MyCroFence AM 215, our antimicrobial technology for safe and durable coating protection. “MyCroFence AM 215 allows our customer to formulate interior and exterior wall paints with a safe and durable protection against microbes. The antimicrobial effect is built into the resin, so it is remains effective for the lifetime of the coating and there is no active release of biocide from the coatings, which makes it safer for people and for the environment”.

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

Marco does not like routine and he has found in sales the most important things that motivate him: fun and challenge!

“Being a salesperson is a little bit of a wanderer life, travelling and meeting new people every day. And no matter if it has been a good or a bad day, at the end you will deserve a wonderful Italian dinner!”.

India

Shirish Gangrade studied Textile Chemistry and started his professional life working in Technical Service. Later he moved into the area of sales, undertaking roles in technical sales and business management. His experience consists of working for a variety of different multinational companies. 

Croda journey

Shirish started working at Croda in 2008 in Business Development for the Coatings and Polymers market. Today he uses his expertise in selling value and business development to manage the sales team for Coatings and Polymers, and five other business sectors, covering our Thane manufacturing site in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. 

“In the past decade, customers are working towards innovation, looking for special effects, functionality and ease of application, long lasting/durable products and of course they are conscious of health and hygiene. Now we can see a very high awareness of environmental impact of the products they use and sustainability.”

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

Meeting challenges and exceeding expectations of customers and converting these into exciting business opportunities.

Japan

Tetsuya Hongyo studied fermentation and microbiology, and started working at a printing company for food packaging related to microbiology. He felt he needed a wider view of Business, so in the early 90’s he went to the United States to study it. He also uses his technical background at home; he enjoys making miso, soy sauce & cheese by fermentation.

Croda journey

Tetsuya has been working at Croda for more than 20 years predominantly in the lanolin and dimer business. He has been involved with Coatings and Polymers since late 2010, applying his knowledge in rust prevention, lanolin and coating applications to expand sales in Japan. As an Industry Sales Manager, he identifies unmet market needs and develops materials relating to dimer and surfactants. 

Tetsuya now has a new opportunity to draw on his microbial experience with Croda´s novel antimicrobial technology for durable and safe coating protection “my experience will be helpful to successfully introduce MyCroFence”. 

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job 

“Customers can actually find it difficult to know what they want to improve in their products to satisfy the requirements of their customers. My role is to let them know what those improvements can be.”

North America

Wolfgang Geuking studied Organic Chemistry in Germany and in 1985 started to work for Croda located in Emmerich in Product Development and Technical Sales Service for hydrogenation catalysts. This was the beginning of long and eventful career!  

Croda Journey

In Product Development, Wolfgang worked with heterogeneous catalysis before moving into the polymers area. “I have been working in two principle areas but a project close to my heart was the development and manufacture of a highly selective catalyst for edible oil hydrogenation, which made it possible to reduce the level of trans fatty acids in margarines and shortening fats” he explained.  

With an extensive knowledge of polymer technology and markets combined with a Latin American passion (Tango dancing), Wolfgang successfully developed the Coatings and Polymers business in Latin America and learned his forth idiom: Spanish!  

Based in the United States, Wolfgang now is using his expertise in customers’ needs to develop technologies to bring innovative product to the market. “I am helping customers to use our products to their benefit, by trying to find solutions to their perceived unmet market needs” he concludes. 

Tell us about some of the enjoyable aspects of your job

 “For me the amazing thing is how creative customers can be in achieving their goals and I am privileged to be in first line of contact with them to discuss these.”