Croda strengthens Europe focus
announced a restructuring of its European chemicals operations.
Croda International, the UK-based speciality chemical company, has announced a restructuring of its European chemicals operations.
With effect from 1 January 2003, the company will change from a divisional to a market-driven structure to improve focus and accelerate growth, it said. The new company will be called Croda Chemicals Europe, and will incorporate the UK chemical manufacturing sites and all the UK and European mainland sales operations.
The European executive board will be headed by David Barraclough, who was previously responsible for the company's operations in Asia-Pacific. Other Board members will include Steve Foots, managing director of Home Care & Polymer Additives, Keith Layden, managing director of Personal Care & Healthcare, Kevin Nutbrown, managing director of Operations and Bryan Jones, the finance director.
"With this new structure we are in a better position to service our key markets in personal care, healthcare, home care and polymer additives. It will also allow additional focus on new product development and innovation - two of our main strengths," said David Barraclough, president of Chemicals Europe.
Croda specialises in natural functional ingredients for skin and hair care products, pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, and animal health. Recent partnerships include skincare ingredients company Sederma France, successfully acquired in 1997, and Crodarom, also based in France, a supplier of plant and herbal extracts. A merger with Westbrook Lanolin Company in 1998 made Croda the world's largest producer of lanolin and derivatives.
The company also has a newly formed home care and polymer additives business.
