MORRISVILLE, PA – Gelest Inc. has appointed Jim Whitlock to the newly created position of Chief Operations Officer, effective immediately, to deepen its senior leadership team in conjunction with the company’s continuing growth. 

“Jim has over 30 years of experience in the silicone business, including roles as Senior Vice President and Corporate Vice President with Dow Corning in its Core Products Business and Global Manufacturing & Engineering Operations, and he is joining Gelest at a pivotal time,” said Ken Gayer, Chief Executive Officer of Gelest. “The expansion of our senior leadership team reflects Gelest’s commitment to operational excellence and growth as a globally recognized leading innovator and manufacturer of highly value-added advanced materials. With Jim’s appointment, we look forward to improving customer satisfaction and operational performance in every respect and accelerating our growth in advanced technology end markets with the support of our partners at New Mountain Capital.”

Whitlock joins Gelest from Honeywell, where he served as Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain for its Performance Materials & Technology business group. 

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues, driving operations excellence to position the company for profitable and sustainable growth, and positively contributing to the company's strategic priorities. I am excited to apply my extensive experience to help the company achieve greater results and drive value," said Whitlock.

Gelest Inc., headquartered in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, is an innovator, manufacturer and supplier of silicones, organosilanes and metal-organics for markets that include the coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers (CASE) market.