Fairlawn, OH, March 4--OMNOVA Solutions has consolidated leadership of its Performance Chemicals businesses and appointed James J. Hohman as president, performance chemicals. Hohman will lead all efforts for the company's chemical product lines, which serve the paper, carpet, nonwovens, floor care, textiles, construction, coatings and adhesives markets.
Sales for Performance Chemicals in 2004 were $373 million.
"Opportunities for greater synergy across all of our chemical businesses, and the desire to reduce costs, led us to conclude that OMNOVA Solutions and our customers are best served under a more streamlined leadership structure," said Kevin McMullen, chairman and chief executive officer of OMNOVA Solutions. "Under Jim Hohman's leadership, our paper and carpet chemical teams have brought innovative solutions to customers by leveraging value-added new products and technology and utilizing creative and effective business models, such as our successful RohmNova joint venture in paper coatings. Jim will bring that same focus to the specialty chemical product lines."
Hohman has been a vice president of OMNOVA Solutions since November 2001, and president, paper & carpet chemicals since December 2000. Since joining the company's chemicals segment in 1996, he has held several roles in general management and strategic business development, including vice president of the specialty chemical product lines in 2000. Previously, he held key positions in business and marketing management at BP Chemicals.
