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Reichhold Inc. has promoted Rodney Biddle to vice president of North American Coatings, with responsibility for management of commercial and technology aspects of the company's coatings-related business operations in North America. Biddle held a variety of positions with Reichhold over a 35-year period before retiring in 2002, and recently rejoined the company as senior advisor for North American Coatings.

Freeman Technology, Malvern, U.K., has appointed Dr. Terry Cooper as sales director. This new position has been created as part of the company's continuing program of expansion. Cooper brings extensive international sales and management experience to this new role, and joins Freeman from Brewer Science, a U.S. supplier of specialty materials and equipment to the semiconductor industry, where he headed the company's European operation.

Guy Decelles has joined ECKART America L.P. as Technical director, Coatings & Plastics, with responsibility for technical service and quality control for the company's Coatings & Plastics Division. Decelles was formerly general manager at Sico-Becker, a coatings joint-venture business based in France. Prior to joining Sico-Becker, he was Technical Service manager at Huntsman Tioxide.

Rohm and Haas Company announced that Dr. J. Michael Fitzpatrick, president and COO, has elected to retire, effective this month. Fitzpatrick also will retire from the board. Fitzpatrick, 57, joined the company in 1975 and was named to his current position in 1999.

American Colors Inc., Sandusky Ohio, has appointed Guy Harkness of Guy Harkness Enterprises Inc. as a sales and marketing consultant. Harkness has 38 years of sales and technical experience in the areas of unsaturated polyester resins, gel coats and coatings resins.

John Lowry has joined the CHEMARK Consulting Group Inc., Southern Pines, N.C., as vice president and director of Strategic Development. Lowry has 30 years of experience in the adhesives, sealants, composites and coatings industries, and has held positions in research and development, sales and marketing, and management with DuPont Co., Celanese and H.B. Fuller Co.

Robert Poletti has joined Michelman Inc. as chief Marketing executive with responsibility for global marketing programs and the development and implementation of a global branding and strategic marketing plan. Poletti was formerly Global Business director, Paint & Coatings, at Noveon Inc., and has more than 20 years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry.