Larry Zhang has been appointed as the new senior vice president for Elkem’s Silicones division.
The engineering graduate will start the role with immediate effect in Shanghai, China.
Frederic Jacquin was recently appointed as senior vice president for strategy and business development on 1 March.
Elkem CEO Helge Aasen said, ‘Elkem pursues a strategy of growth through operational excellence and increased specialisation, and this will continue in the Silicones division under Larry’s strong leadership.
‘Silicones will also continue to develop and grow both in China and the rest of the world, supported by megatrends such as the green transition and the rise of middle class worldwide.’
Elkem is a fully integrated producer from silicon metal to upstream siloxane and downstream silicone specialties.
The Silicones division currently has more than 4,400 employees, 14 multi-functional manufacturing sites, and 13 research and innovation centres around the globe. It offers a full range of silicone for diverse speciality markets, and in 2021 delivered revenues of NOK 17.4 billion (£1.43 billion).
Silicone is used in a large number of products and industries, including manufactured goods, construction materials, electronics and consumer items.
An electric vehicle contains on average four times more silicones than a traditional car, as the insulation material of choice for EV battery cables. Silicones also enable carbon dioxide reductions equal to nine times the emissions from production and end-of-life.
In April 2021, the Elkem board approved a NOK 3.8 billion (£310 million) strategic expansion of the Xinghuo Silicones plant in China to strengthen the company’s position in the market.
The company also announced, in October 2021, a €36 million (£3.10 million) capacity extension of its upstream silicone intermediate units in Roussillon in France, which received financial support from the French government.
