University of Twente

University of Twente, The Netherlands

Helping sustainable start-up companies prosper

@RubyBio has created a novel, cost-effective sugar-based surfactant platform

Ruby Bio

Director of Business Development

Commercializing globally @Yilkins biomass drying and torrefaction technologies. @Yilkins equipment uses typically  50% of the energy used by alternative approaches. The  equipment is  commercially proven and bankable and can dry a wide variety of biomass streams from forestry and agricultural to wastewater sludge.

Yilkins B.V.

Vice President

Consulting  and investment for sustainable materials and chemicals companies in areas of industrial bio-tech.

GWP & Associates BV

President/Owner

Kiverdi converts CO2 into a variety of products for feeding humans and animals and products used daily.

Kiverdi, Inc.

Senior Vice President

SyntheZyme is an early stage, renewable chemicals start-up with a focus  on bio-catalytic processing for bio-surfactants, (bio-)chemicals, bio-plastisc and enzymatic processing.

SyntheZyme LLC

Bridging Competencies is a partner ship, which helps entrepreneurs and inventors to launch products and bring to life a business for their innovative products to the international market. BC gives hands-on support. BC shares in the risks and rewards of the starting business.  In November 2008 the Pyrus Group BV (www.pyrus.nl) was launched.  Pyrus realizes turn-key installations (0.5-5.0 MW) and delivery networks for bio-heat. Mid 2010 a bio-energy utility company called BeGreen Energy BV (www.begreenenergy.nl) has been launched. BeGreen is a bio-heat utility supplying heat from biomass to small and medium-sized customers.

Bridging Competencies

Partner

* Turned around a North American affiliate of a global renewable chemicals company by > $ 300 MM in 3 years.
* Redefined Business strategy from specialty to commodity chemical orientation. 
* Restructured organization and management team.
* Managed business through a strike of hourly employees that started in 02/'05 and ended with decertification of the Union in 09/'06.
* Carved-out three businesses (Fatty Acids, Plastics additives, Ozone Acids) into a stand-alone legal entity.
* Contributed business into a newly created global 50/50 joint-venture between Cognis and Golden Hope of Malaysia.
* Increased sales by >20%
* Streamlined organization, changed management team and reduced work force by 15%

Cognis Oleochemicals LLC

President

Promoted to operating P&L responsibility. Managed marketing, operations and finance teams. Matrixed to  sales, logistics, HR and R&D.
 Turned around declining Asia business.
 Boosted global market share in key markets despite flat / declining markets. Developed and implemented growth strategies for a highly competitive environment.
 Spearheaded strategy to integrate six independent businesses, including two under performing businesses.    Reorganized around three core businesses.
 Provided innovative leadership for the design and implementation of Six-Sigma processes, linking customer needs into operations. Reduced time-to-market for new products.
 Served on divisional Excellence taskforce. Helped define divisional vision,which was integrated into an enterprise-wide excellence initiative.
 Negotiated major global deals with large multi-national companies. 
 Chaired Business Advisory Board.Was selected to participate in the new business development for Chemicals.

Cabot Corporation

Vice President and General Manager

Led global specialty black pigment business with a focus on global and regional marketing / sales and new business development initiatives. Oversaw global team of marketing / business segment managers holding a matrix relationship with sales, manufacturing, logistics, HR and R&D. Realized a very substantial increase in profit in a three-year period and enabled Company to reinforce global leadership position. Increased revenues by spearheading global contracting strategy and through new products and services.  Led a shift to an outside-in culture based on finding how Cabots products could improve the
customers business. Developed and implemented value selling, Six Sigma-based new product design and continuous improvement planning in the business to better meet customers needs. Credited with bringing innovation and for a first time right product design using a fully transparent and structured process.

Global Business Manager - Performance Polymers

Promoted to senior leadership role with responsibility for growth of a color concentrate and specialty compounding business in Asia Pacific. Supervised sales offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Melbourne and Mumbai. Managed sales and marketing team and business team that included manufacturing, finance, technical service and logistics.  Operated in predominantly Chinese working environment and Asian business culture. Grew business significantly and positioned business for long-term success. Led transition from sales-oriented to marketing culture and aligned focus on Chinese market. Expanded and upgraded sales/distribution network in region and opened new sales office in Mumbai. Directed launch of new product lines.

Business Director Asia Pacific - Proprietary Colorants

Business responsibility for a color concentrate business for flexible plastic applications in Europe, South America, Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Member of divisional team with direct accountability for developing and executing marketing strategy and for driving revenues, margins and business growth. Turned around a low-performing, unprofitable business into a market-oriented enterprise with sustainable profitability and return on assets. Made a major contribution in a business turnaround in 1993. Significantly repositioned and streamlined product offerings. Implemented value selling and pricing, and developed novel sales tools utilizing performance of products to create customer-perceived value.Identified need for and drove implementation of complete ERP systems renewal. Initiated reorganization of the Technical Service department around competency centers. Led integration of marketing and sales activities resulting from Cabots purchase of new compounding plant in Italy.

Business Manager, Proprietary Colorants

Joined this start-up venture-funded, 45-employee company that specialized in contract R&D work focusing on integrated advanced material, design and manufacturing capabilities for aerospace industry. Led all sales and marketing initiatives. Traveled throughout US and Europe to capture new accounts while growing existing business. Recognized for personal contributions in generating significant revenues over a one and a half year period. Personally developed, strengthened and managed customer relationships with major global aerospace companies.

Devtech International

Marketing Director

Responsible for development of pre-marketing, marketing, pricing and product range development. Led successful sales / new market development activity in Middle East and Africa for Mobils (now Exxon/Mobil) joint venture with Sabic of Saudi Arabia.  Recognized for personal contributions in building business from scratch to a very substantial size in a little more than three years, becoming the leading plastics supplier in the region. Set up seven regional sales offices. Defined product range, performed market studies, led marketing strategies and defined pricing. Assumed responsibility for building a very substantial complementary trading business, sourcing from Europe and the United Staes of America. Partnered with Financial Manager on complex financial transactions (e.g., letter of credit sales, back-to-back-trading with L/Cs) under US government export subsidy programs (Egypt, Nigeria).

Guy Penard