Nicholas Trainer, president of specialty chemicals manufacturer Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa., a division of TOTAL's Chemicals branch, will retire from the company. Dr. Luigi Colantuoni, vice president of TOTAL's Atotech Far East, was named Trainer's successor and will take over general management responsibility on January 1, 2007.

Trainer joined the company in 1969 as a technical sales representative. He was named general manager in 1975 and promoted to president the following year.

"I sincerely want to underline and thank Nick for his exceptional achievements during his 30 years at the head of Sartomer and to pay homage to his outstanding leadership," said Hugues Woestelandt, the CEO for the Specialty Chemicals division of TOTAL, S.A.

Trainer steered the company through numerous acquisitions, sales and restructurings during the 1980s, driving an extensive growth phase with a series of product-line and company acquisitions, new product development, and aggressive market expansion. Under his leadership, Sartomer's annual sales revenue grew from approximately $2 million in the late 1960s to more than $420 million in 2005.

Sartomer made significant contributions to the specialty chemical industry during Trainer's tenure, including contributing to the development of radiation-curable technology. Sartomer's photocure products, which are now used in printing inks, electronics, fiber optics and coatings, played a major part in the growth of this technology. During his nearly four decades of service, Trainer also oversaw the company's expansion into Europe and the Far East. He served on the board of the Japanese joint venture, Sartomer Idemitsu Corporation.

Trainer is a member of the board of directors of Sartomer Company, Inc.; Total Holdings USA, Inc.; Cook Composites & Polymers Co.; and, Bostik, Inc. He is a former member of the board of directors for the American Chemical Council and the CIIT Centers for Health Research (Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

Sartomer Senior Vice President John A. Potts Announces Retirement

In a related announcement, John A. "Jack" Potts, senior vice president, business management, sales and marketing for Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa., will retire effective January 1.

Potts was a key member of the management team, led by Nicholas Trainer, president, which guided the company through a significant growth period dotted with acquisitions, sales and restructurings during the 1980s.

Potts, in his 33rd year with the company, is currently responsible for managing all aspects of Sartomer's business, sales and marketing activities.

"Jack and I have worked side by side for more than 30 years, and I credit Jack's knowledge of the world marketplace and vision and long-term direction for a large portion of our incredible growth during that period," Trainer said. "Jack has been instrumental to Sartomer's daily - and long-term - business success."