Former Chief Advisor of Apollo Tyres and industry veteran P K Mohamed was recently awarded the Hancock Medal.

The recognition was established by the Institution of Rubber Industry (now the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining, IOM3) and is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the rubber industry.

The award is christened in honour of Thomas Hancock, the British inventor who pioneered the practical methods of vulcanising and masticating rubber. The medal is presented to individuals for their exceptional achievements in rubber science, technology and innovation.

Mohamed was presented the Hancock Medal 2024 on the back of his exemplary contributions to rubber science and technology, tyre innovations and leadership in sustainability and education. In the past, Dr D Banerjee, K M Phillip, S V Lathia, M M Patel and Dr R K Matthan were conferred the recognition in India.

On 5 December 2024, Kochi, Kerala, became the buzzing hub for the rubber industry as the three-day Rubber Con 2024 kicked off. The theme for the conference was ‘Sustainable Development In Rubber Industry: Challenges and Opportunities’. Building up to the event, a two-day pre-conference symposium focused on advanced tyre technology building.

For the first time, this prestigious event was hosted in Kerala, India’s heartland of natural rubber production. Over 850 delegates — ranging from MSMEs to giant corporates in the rubber, tyre, latex, recycling, materials, machinery and testing equipment segments — gathered to discuss, debate and envision the future of the rubber and tyre industry on both global and national scales.

Why Kerala?
The decision to host Rubber Con in Kerala was no coincidence. Kerala produces 90 percent of India’s natural rubber, making it a natural choice for such a landmark event. “Kochi, as the financial capital of Kerala, is the perfect place to have this conversation,” said P K Mohamed, former Chief of R&D at Apollo Tyres.

He added, “Today, the industry faces significant challenges like e-mobility, circularity and sustainability. Rising prices of natural rubber and petrochemicals are squeezing profit margins, and some companies are struggling to stay afloat.”

A key event highlight saw Mohamed being honoured with the prestigious Hancock Medal, recognising his lifetime contributions to the Indian and global tyre industry.

Rubber Demand: A vision for growth
During his address, Dr R Mukhopadhyay, Chairman of the Indian Rubber Institute (IRI), shared an optimistic outlook for India’s rubber industry. “By 2030, the country’s per capita rubber consumption is expected to grow from 1.3 kg to 2.5 kg. This growth will require not just increased production but also a skilled workforce to take full advantage of the opportunity,” he said.

Dr Mukhopadhyay also emphasised the role of IRI in supporting this transformation, particularly through education, research and skill-building programmes that meet international standards.

The sustainability challenge
Dr Tessy Thomas, Former Project Director of the Agni Missile and now Vice-Chancellor of Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, delivered a keynote as the Chief Guest. “Sustainability isn’t just a goal — it’s a necessity,” she said.

She addressed critical issues like deforestation, biodiversity loss and carbon emissions linked to rubber production. She also warned about the raw material shortages caused by climate change and geopolitical instability, urging the industry to act now.

Global expertise on display
The event featured over 90 technical presentations and 18 poster sessions from experts and delegates from India, Germany, Sri Lanka, South Korea, China, Italy, France, UK and US. Several speakers brought fresh insights to the table:

• Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries, joined virtually to emphasise the importance of innovation and collaboration in the rubber sector.
• Roopak Karnik, CEO of Mukand Bekaert Industries, discussed the evolution of rubber reinforcement with steel in a session titled The Transformational Journey of Rubber Reinforcement with Steel.
• Srikanth Chakravarthy, Managing Director of Eonix Management Solutions, presented his vision for Co-Creating a Sustainable Future.

Trelleborg Tires has been honoured with the ‘Best Agriculture Tyre’ award at the recently held 21st Visão Agro Brazil Awards. This recognition comes on the back of the recent win at the Visão Agro Centro-Sul edition.

Trelleborg Tires has long been dedicated to agricultural tyre innovation and technology, providing high-performance, environmentally friendly tyre solutions to Brazilian agriculture. By using VF technology, which includes cutting-edge compounds and optimised tread patterns, Trelleborg tyres contribute significantly to increasing agricultural production, boosting productivity and safeguarding the soil – all of which help to balance the demands of modern and future agriculture.

The Visão Agro Award, now in its 21st edition, honours excellence among Brazilian agriculture suppliers. The event is held in Brazil's agriculture capital Ribeirão Preto and highlights pioneers in agricultural production and transformation.

Rafael Oliveira, Sales Advisor, Yokohama TWS South America, said, “Once again, it is an honour to receive this award, which recognises the dedication to design and engineering in each tyre we produce. Our mission goes beyond delivering innovative solutions to Brazilian farms; we build strong field presence and collaborate closely with OEMs to support farmers in achieving sustainable growth year after year. Driven by technology and expertise, we proactively anticipate our customer needs with a diverse portfolio of high-performing Trelleborg tyres and complete wheels for off-highway vehicles, improving productivity, efficiency and environmental sustainability. This award underscores the value of our research and innovation, which we remain dedicated to advancing in the years ahead."

Dow Inc. named Karen S Carter, currently president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, its Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

Carter will oversee Dow’s business segments, including Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and Performance Materials & Coatings. She will also lead key functions such as Integrated Supply Chain, Purchasing, Information Systems, and Commercial.

“Karen is a proven leader with more than three decades of experience at Dow delivering strong business results,” said Fitterling. “She has an excellent track record of operating discipline, maintaining close relationships with key partners and customers, and driving innovation across the organisation. She has successfully led our largest business and played critical leadership roles in other essential business and functional teams within Dow, always with a focus on developing and maintaining high-performing teams. As COO, she will work closely with me and our executive team to drive growth and value creation across our operating segments, while continuing to provide innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers.”

Carter joined Dow in 1994 and has held various leadership roles. As P&SP president, she drove the development of circular solutions, including the launch of REVOLOOP Recycled Plastic Resins and INNATE Precision Packaging Resins.

Prior to P&SP, Carter served as Dow’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer. She currently serves on the boards of Southwire and the Great Lakes Bay Region Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Celanese Corporation announced that Scott Richardson, currently the company’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st January 2025. Richardson will also join the company’s Board of Directors.

Richardson will succeed Lori Ryerkerk, who is stepping down as Chairman, CEO, and director of Celanese at the end of the year. Celanese has elected Edward Galante, an independent director on the company’s Board since 2013, as Chairman of the Board, effective upon Ryerkerk’s departure.

“It is an incredible honour to be named CEO-elect of Celanese, and I am grateful to our Board of Directors for entrusting me with this responsibility,” said Richardson. “Celanese is known for tenacious execution, even during difficult times, and I am confident we have all the critical components to create value for our shareholders, customers, employees and partners. I am fully committed to driving the changes needed in light of today’s challenges, including our relentless efforts to improve our cost structure and drive cash generation. By executing our action plan and controlling what we can control, we are working to position Celanese to capitalise on its significant upside potential, resilient free cash flow and long-term value creation.”

“Coming out of retirement to lead Celanese since 2019 as CEO has been the true highlight of my career, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together,” said Ryerkerk. “Scott is a proven executive who brings deep expertise across the company’s business and new perspectives to the CEO role. I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes as he works with the team to build an even stronger Celanese.”

“The Board’s appointment of Scott represents the culmination of a deliberate and thoughtful succession planning process, and we are pleased to have an executive of Scott’s calibre,” said Kim Rucker, Lead Independent Director of Celanese’s Board of Directors. “The Board is looking forward to the long-term success of Celanese under Scott’s direction.”

Rucker continued, “On behalf of the Board, I also want to thank Lori for her leadership and significant contributions over the last five years. With Lori at the helm, Celanese has navigated challenging macro environments while strengthening its competitive position. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

Over his two decades of service at Celanese, Richardson has held key management roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and leadership positions overseeing the company’s leading global Engineered Materials (EM) and Acetyl Chain (AC) businesses. Richardson was instrumental in creating and implementing the EM and AC operating models, which work together strategically to create value.