General Management and People Leadership (love being close to the action); Business development; Results delivery; Strategy development; Organization; International (multi-cultural) Business; Innovation management.
Sander joined Michelin in 1993, upon his graduation from the Polytechnic School of Automobile Technics in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
He started his career at Michelin in the Netherlands where he held several commercial assignments.
Since 1998, Sander held various positions in Sales, Marketing, Business Development as well as Purchasing roles. He has been based in Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai and in France at the Michelin Group’s French headquarters.
At present he is Vice President – End-of-Life Rubber Products Recycling Business. In this role he has been developing the Strategic Roadmap for End-of-Life-Tire valorisation for the Michelin Group.
Robert Harper has been an industrial technology entrepreneur in the circular chemicals and renewable energy sectors for 13 years. This has involved innovating and scaling several plant technologies from lab concept through to scaled production and the production of novel sustainable fuels under long-term contracts with major multinationals. He is the Co-founder and Deputy CEO of Circtec, in which role he is currently focussed on deploying a flagship 200,000 tonne end-of-life tyre circular economy investment.
Bob Genovese is the President and CEO at Delta-Energy Group, LLC. Delta-Energy is a renewable chemical company that uses proprietary technology to convert end-of-life tires into specialty oils and recovered carbon black that meets the demanding performance
specifications of the tire and rubber industries. Delta’s process is lower cost and generates 85% less CO2 emissions than production of virgin carbon black.
Delta-Energy is a true circular solution for the tire industry to meet performance requirements, lower costs, and enhance sustainability.
Bob is an energetic C-suite executive with diverse experience leading operational businesses around the world as well as resolving difficult commercial and regulatory
issues. During thirty years with BP, Bob held business and functional leadership roles
in North America, Europe, and Asia. Bob has a track record of leading operating businesses to achieve outstanding results in the areas of safety, operations, commercial performance, and people development.
Bob graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Chemical Engineering. He also holds a MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of
Management at Northwestern University.
Victor Vreeken (48) is holding master degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Business Administration (MBA). Before joining Black Bear, Vreeken spent over 8 years at Avantium, active in the emerging industry of renewable and sustainable chemistry. Most recently he was Chief Operations Officer for Renewable Polymers business within Avantium. Vreeken joined Black Bear Carbon in January 2020 in the position of Chief Technology Officer. In August 2021 he transitioned into the role of CEO.
Germano Carreira is the Chief Executive Officer of BB&G Alternative Worldwide Environmental Solutions, a Portuguese technology company that leverages thermal conversion to transform rubber from end-of-life tires into hydro-carbon syngas, hydro-carbon oil, and recovered carbon black. Germano’s work has gained BB&G recognition as an industry leader in the circular economy, pioneering the process of transforming potential waste into secondary material for alternative uses.
A hands-on leader, Germano established the company’s research and development function, built a world-class chemical engineering team, led the construction of a pilot plant, and secured an EU patent. He has also led R&D projects focussed on converting tires to fuel, recovered carbon black (rCB), and syngas.
Previously, Germano served as Chief Executive Officer for Aether International Renewable Energy and Aetheris Energy in the US, where he led key research and development initiatives on renewable energy projects.
Earlier in his career, Germano held executive roles in the banking sector based in Miami as Chief Executive Officer for several top lending firms ,mainly involved in highly sophisticated risk mitigation structures.
Germano holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Management from Concordia University as well as an associate degree in industrial maintenance technology and machinery mechanics. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
• Global Sales Director End products - Ecolomondo Corporation.
• 12 years of experience in different domains of carbon black - manufacturing, technical services, Sales & marketing.
• Lead the international business development activities of carbon black.
• Developed and promoted specialty blacks for plastics and inks applications.
Mr Igor Levenberg has been active in Carbon Black business for the last 30 years. Since 1995, he owns and manages MAKROchem Group, a business cluster operating in distribution and logistics of rubber raw materials. With several warehouses and transloading stations located in Europe, North America and scheduled openings in Asia accompanied by own bulk transport infrastructure, MAKROchem is a major player in CB logistics for both producers and consumers globally.
Mr Levenberg was born in 1969, holds Master's degree in Economics followed by PhD in Chemistry. He published a range of scientific papers and books dedicated to Carbon Black and is actively engaged in the life of the industry also via participation in forums across the globe.
Werner Dilberowic started working for Hosokawa Alpine 31 years ago. Since day one he has been part of our chemical division.
Besides his experience and activity as Sales Manager, especially in the Asian market as well as East Europe, he has been able to apply his profound knowledge in many other projects.
Werner Dilberowic has been involved in carbon black business from the very beginning - from virgin carbon black to recovered carbon black, he is the right partner for you.
Bio to follow.
A motivated “solutions provider” who is
driven by challenges and focused on
constant improvement.
These traits have led to success over a 25
year career, by applying them initially
toward Engineering Solutions in the
Industrial Dry Bulk Handling Sector, and
later toward Business Leadership and
Development at Cyclonaire.
Working directly with Fortune 500 clients
and related Engineering and Construction
firms has led to development of a wide
range of technical skills and teamwork
aptitude.
A high commitment to success ensures
ownership of any project undertaken. A
willingness to “roll up the sleeves” and
personally execute any aspect of the work
required leads to constant education and
skillset development that further supports
the ability to constantly improve.
Steve Kantor, Chief Technology Officer, has been involved with the development of the Microwave Reduction technology since its inception in 1989 when he was the associate to Dr. Charles Emery, the inventor. He was involved with the design, operation and testing of the original test and prototype units for both tire recycling and medical waste. Steve joined EWS in 1993, when it was formed, to further develop the Microwave Reduction technology. Since then he has been involved in all aspects of the research and development, as well as operations. His experience includes the design and operation of the original pilot tire reduction facility and the design of the Hybrid Microwave facility in Sault Ste. Marie. He brings an unmatched knowledge of the Microwave Reduction technology.
Paul Ita runs Notch Consulting, a Massachusetts-based research company dedicated to the market research needs of the global specialty chemicals industry. Mr. Ita focuses on raw materials for the global tire and rubber industries, with a particular focus on carbon black, silica, and rubber chemicals. Through Notch, he publishes the Carbon Black World Data Book and the Carbon Black Quarterly Newsletter.
After finishing his chemical education (HBO) he started working as a R&D chemist and applications laboratory group leader. Later in his career he also finished an executive MBA in strategic marketing/general management. Getting in contact with customers and the market he decided to give his career a commercial twist and since then he has been working at the edge of sales, marketing and technical service, including a position at Cabot as technical service manager. In these positions he also gained a lot of international carbon black experience. He has been working for over 35 years in ink & coating related industries.
On a broad background of Humansistics and a Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Richard Chiari has over 25 years of professional experience in Manufacturing, Logistics and Procurement: twelve years in FMCG-food/feed with Mars, five years in Plastics Industry (Borealis-Borouge) and also several years as CPO (Procurement&Production) for Erber Group, a globally engaged Hidden Champion in sustainable Agro-Biotechnology.
As Semperit Group Global Lead Buyer Carbon Black, Richard works together closely with R&D to further develop a sound business case establishing rCB as a complementary raw material for MRG Mechanical Rubber Goods in bigger industrial scale.
Christian Höfels studied process engineering to a bachelor degree in Hamburg and finished his academic education with a master degree in process engineering at the university of Braunschweig. He joined NETZSCH Trockenmahltechnik GmbH, a company specialized in fine grinding and classifying, six years ago. As a specialist for “Process Technology Development” he is in charge for new trends and optimization in all kinds of processes. The activities start with trials in the test lab, go on to the construction and up to commissioning and optimization of the plants in industrial operation.
Martin von Wolfersdorff is a consultant specialising in alternative rubber fillers and tire pyrolysis. He is in contact with over 320 tire pyrolysis companies globally and advises tyre manufacturing associations, tire manufacturers, tire collectors, refineries, pyrolysis technology providers & operators on the global tire pyrolysis industry and the marketing of recovered carbon black. Previously, Martin worked in the carbon black industry with Cabot, in the custom colour masterbatch industry with Americhem and in the white pigment industry with Huntsman Pigments. Martin holds a Dipl. Ing. (Univ.) degree in chemical engineering from the Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany.
Jens is CEO and Partner in WindSpace.
Jens has a background in banking with 10+ years of experience in Danish banks and is a Certified Chartered Financial Analyst and is currently studying Executive MBA at AVT Business School in Copenhagen.
Jens is also the CEO of Elysium Nordic, a tire recycling project in Denmark with focus on delivering new value from ELT
Biography to follow.
Prior to founding RCB Nanotechnologies GmbH, Niels Raeder was CEO of Pyrolyx AG. For over 10 years, he grew this public German company in the field of sustainable technologies and engineering in industrial recycling of tires to one of the market leaders in this segment. He was born in Bonn and studied marketing and communications in Munich. His expertise is business development and financing of mid-size companies. During the last 10 years he was responsible for several successful IPO’s in Germany and Australia as well as different bond financings in Europe and USA. The identification and development of new sustainable technologies which will help to improve the CO2-footprint of industrial production processes, is one of the core targets of Niels Raeder´s work.
Prof. Dr. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda is Head of the Expert Field for Materials Evaluation at Continental, Tires, and has hold different executive positions in the Materials Labs of Continental since 1998. He is Honorary Professor at the Leibniz University of Hanover and Visiting Professor at the Qingdao University of Science & Technology. He is Chairman of Sub-Committee D11.20 Rubber Compounding Materials & Processes of ASTM International, member of the US Delegation to ISO TC 45 – Rubber & Rubber Products, Convener of the ISO Working Group TC45/SC2/WG5 Chemical Tests of Rubber, and member of the Board Council of the German Rubber Society.
Benoit Flammang has over 30-year experience in the Plastic Industry, in the fields of sales & marketing, business development, research and product development, Key Account support, customer technical service and manufacturing.
He holds a master in Chemistry later complemented with a post-graduate in business management. He previously worked for Shell Chemicals, RKW group and finally Clariant masterbatches division that was acquired by Polyone last year to form Avient.
As senior marketing leader for E&E applications, Benoit is involved in strategy and innovations in the plastic market where sustainability plays a dominant role in collaboration with suppliers, customers and the whole supply chain.
Coming soon..
- Mr. Musaio has been working at Bridgestone since ‘95.
- He has 18 years in R&D - Head of compounding & materials development.
- Also, he has 8 years in Procurement - Head BSEMIA Direct/ Indirect Procurement.
-Since Jan’21 Mr. Musaio is undertaking the role of Head of End of Life Tires & Circular Economy (BSEMIA).
Pieter ter Haar is an expert in recovered carbon black (rCB), pyrolysis, and is a former rubber compounder. He has extensive expertise managing R&D for rCB companies in Europe and North America. After obtaining his Chemistry degree from the Hanze University (Groningen, the Netherlands) he worked as a Rubber Compounder for Fenner Dunlop Conveyor Belting in the Netherlands, where he was in charge of sustainability development of rubber compounds. Pieter joined Pyrolyx/cct Stegelitz in 2015 to develop, build, and manage the first R&D competence center fully dedicated to rCB research. He is one of the founding members of ASTM committee D36 on recovered carbon black, and in his current role as Vice Chair, he leads various task groups within the committee. Pieter is currently president of Terhaar Consulting Inc. in Ontario Canada and consults internationally on various topics related to sustainability, pyrolysis and recovered Carbon Black and is part of the advisory committee for “Recovered Carbon Black World”.
Working with carbon black for nearly 20 years, former at Degussa (Evonik, Orion) at the specialties application center.
Started at Harold Scholz in 2006, also in the application lab, then accompanied different development projects before changing to sales activities.
Nowadays responsible for technical application costumers and requests as technical marketing manager - preferred carbon black (preparations) costumers.
Prior to becoming CEO of Scandinavian Enviro Systems, Thomas’ previous roles included Export Sales Manager at Opus Equipment (Vehicle Inspection and Emission testing Equipment); General Manager at B&B Tools Shanghai/Management team Luna Group; Board of Directors of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China; General Manager at Kontikab (Industrial Leak detection equipment) and Product Manager, Volvo Group Exterior Profiling & Identification
Born in 1970, he studied Process Technology at the university Hochschule Niederrhein in Krefeld.
He wrote his diploma thesis about the Cyclone Classifier CSF at NEUMAN & ESSER in 1995 and has worked there continuously since then.
Marc Giersemehl broadened his international experience during his three years in Brazil as Managing Director, being in charge of the Latin American market.
Today, as the Technical Managing Director at the headquarters in Germany, he is responsible for the technical area including research & development.
Vianney Vales is the CEO of Wastefront AS. He was previously the CEO of Devaltec LLC, a project developer in sustainable Energies and a strategic partner of Wastefront in the development of projects. He is a former top executive in Oil & Gas in Shell and Galp Energia, and a founder & CEO of multiple bio-fuels companies, such as SGC Energia, and bio Biovegetal.
