Fred du Plessis – ECMSA President (FdP Associates)
Fred du Plessis has 26 years of business development experience in the international chemical and life sciences Industries. During 16½ years with Sasol in South Africa and the UK he gained international chemical industry experience in production, marketing, supply chain, and business development. From 2000-2003 he was Vice President of the Industrial Investment Council in Berlin where he was responsible for FDI in life sciences and chemicals in eastern Germany.

From 2004 to 2007 he ran his own international business development consulting practice NDC-International Limited based in the UK. For the past 1 ½ years he was Senior Vice President at Kline & Co. heading up their management consulting practice in Europe and the Middle East. In August he established FdP Associates – a management consultancy based in the UK - focused on strategy, business development and supply chain in the chemical industry.

He has served as President of European Chemical Marketing and Strategy Association (ECMSA) since 2002, as Treasurer of the European Chemical Site Promotion Platform (ECSPP) from April 2005 to March 2008, and as President of ECSPP since March 2008. He is a member of the Logistics Ad Hoc Working Group of the CEFIC’s High Level Group on chemicals supporting the European Commission’s initiative to improve the competitiveness of the European chemical industry.

Francois Bertero – ECMSA VP Industry (Dow Corning)
Francois has worked with Dow Corning Corp for over 20 years during which time he has held various marketing positions focused around product market management, global major market management, Innovation Management and most recently Business Program Management. He currently holds the position of global strategic marketing manager for the Dow Corning Specialty Chemicals Business, he also leads the Granulation Business Program. In this role he is helping the Business to strengthen its growth portfolio. Francois has a real multicultural background having lived in France, Belgium and Singapore. He is a member of the Dow Corning corporate marketing council, which encompasses the marketing directors from all the various Dow Corning division.

“ECMSA is a unique place for Marketing Professionals from the Chemical Industry to meet and exchange best practices” Francois says. “It does try to focus on the key Industries challenges – like Innovation or impact of the Value Chain – and provides an Industry vision on how to address them”

Henrik Meincke – ECMSA VP Industry (VCI)
Dr. Henrik Meincke studied chemistry and economics at the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany. He joined the association of the German Chemical Industry (VCI) in 2000. He currently holds the position of the association`s chief economist. In his role, he anylizes the business situation of the chemical industry, evaluates mayor long-term-trends and develops szenarios for the future of the branch. Furthermore, he is a specialist for the impact assessment of several legislative activities in Germany and the EU.In 2002 he joined ECMSA council and managed sveral ECMS/VCI events on "chemicals in Asia".

"ECMSA is a unique place for me to meet professionals from the chemical industry and to exchange ideas an experiences." Henrik says.

Paul Ray – ECMSA VP Communication (ICIS)
Paul Ray joined ICIS early in 2007 as the Head of Data and Analytics, to drive the development of data services. ICIS is the world's largest business information provider for the chemical and oil industry. He moved from INEOS, after supporting the transition of the olefin and polyolefin businesses from BP in 2006. In BP’s Petrochemical Business, his varied roles focused on competitor intelligence, chemical business strategy and planning and performance management. These roles focused on expanding corporate understanding of competitor behaviour and forecasting future competitive dynamics, providing a framework for leadership to agree on future portfolio shape and options – including selling the business! Before BP, he worked for Trichem Consultants in the UK and Singapore, providing consultancy services to producers, banks and investors in the chemical industries worldwide, including valuation, restructuring, feasibility and market studies. Paul is a Chemical Engineer, graduated from Birmingham University in 1987.

Involvement with ECMSA and Council is easy to explain. It provides access to a wide community of chemical industry professionals with whom one can share and learn a great deal. Furthermore, it provides the platform to broaden personal horizons and usefully take back knowledge into one's job.

You can contact Paul at paul.ray@icis.com.