People to know

Rohm and Haas Co.

Rohm and Haas Co. has named Alan E. Barton to lead the Coatings Business Group and appointed him to the company's Executive Council. Barton previously held positions in agricultural chemicals, industrial coatings and architectural coatings, and was named worldwide business director for Coatings in 1997. Rohm and Haas also named Jacques Croisetiere regional director of Europe. He retains his responsibilities as business unit director for the Ion Exchange Resins business, and assumes direction of the Inorganic and Specialty Solutions business. Croisetiere joined Rohm and Haas as part of the Morton International acquisition in 1999. He was formerly head of finance for Morton's Canadian subsidiary, and also has headed Morton's Plastic Additives and Sealants business.

Columbian Chemicals Co.

Columbian Chemicals Co. has promoted Jim Berresse to executive vice president, Carbon Black Operations, with responsibility for global manufacturing, sales and marketing, and supply-chain functions. Berresse was formerly senior vice president of Finance and Business Development.

Plasticolors Inc.

Plasticolors Inc., a supplier of pigment dispersions based in Ashtabula, OH, has named Ed Capp Technical Service manager and Gary Benecke Territory Sales manager Southwest. Capp has held technical and management positions over a 25-year career at Plasticolors. Benecke will manage the company's distribution and sales activities in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Degussa Corp.

Degussa Corp. has named Jack Clem vice president, Carbon Black, for the NAFTA region, with responsibility for operations of the company's North American carbon-black business, including sales and distribution. Clem was formerly managing director of J.M. Huber Corp.'s Engineered Materials business in Europe, and has more than 25 years of experience in the chemicals industry.

Luzenac America Inc.

Kent Cutler has joined Luzenac America Inc., a supplier of talc products, as vice president of Sales & Marketing. Cutler formerly held sales and marketing positions with Monsanto Co. and Laporte. Luzenac also has named Jerry Gauntt director of Marketing and Business Development and John Godla vice president of Technical Development.

Kerr-McGee Chemical L.L.C.

Kerr-McGee Chemical L.L.C. named Thomas Lauria vice president of Global Pigment Operations. Lauria recently joined Kerr-McGee Chemical after a long career with adhesives and office-products company Avery Dennison.
Kerr-McGee Chemical also named Richard R. Dean, formerly director of Pigments for Savannah and Europe, director of Pigments for Kerr-McGee's U.S. pigment facilities and its 50%-owned Tiwest pigment operations in Kwinana, Western Australia. Dean was previously manager of the Savannah pigment plant, and was general manager of the Tiwest pigment operations from 1996 to 2000.
Peter Davies, director of pigments for the company's European operations, has been given expanded responsibilities and will oversee plants in Uerdingen, Germany, and Botlek, The Netherlands.

Atlas Electric Devices Co.

Atlas Electric Devices Co. has named Larry W. Masters president and CEO, with responsibility for the operations of Atlas Electric Devices and Atlas Weathering Services Group.
Masters was formerly president of Atlas Weathering Services Group, which includes South Florida Test Service and DSET Laboratories in the United States and AMTT Laboratories in The Netherlands. Before joining Atlas, he held research and management positions with the National Institute of Standards and Technology for nearly 30 years.
Jack L. Martin was named to succeed Masters as president of Atlas Weathering Services Group. He was formerly Site manager at South Florida Test Service in Miami.