by NURUL SUHAIDI

PETRONAS Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) has appointed Dr Debbie Chiu Yuen-Yuen as the new COO for specialty chemicals.

The appointment is part of PetChem’s strategy to further strengthen its position within the petrochemicals industry and bolster its specialty chemicals portfolio through the formation of a dedicated specialty chemicals division.

Chiu brings with her close to 30 years of experience within the chemicals industry with extensive knowledge in coatings, specialty polymer, energy storage, device materials and fibre solutions.

PetChem CEO and MD Ir Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof said the group is confident with Chiu’s extensive technical chemistry and application knowledge to helm the new division and materialise the group’s aspirations.

“The global specialty chemicals market growth trajectory is expected to continue and we are proud to strengthen our presence with the establishment of our new division, marking another major milestone in our specialty chemicals growth journey that is in line with our second-pronged strategy,” he said in a statement today.

Chiu also brings with her leadership experience in mergers and acquisitions, business transformation and market expansion, among others.

“I am honoured to be leading this new team and look forward to delivering positive impact through maximising our current offerings and capitalising on growth opportunities for the company,” Chiu said.

She added that PetChem has clear and ambitious aspirations for its business and specialty chemicals will play a large role in realising them.

As part of its two-pronged strategy, PetChem has identified the diversification into specialty chemicals as a key anchor for the company’s growth and to cushion the business against the cyclical nature and volatility of the broader oil and gas (O&G) industry.

This new division, with 2,000 employees, is set to grow PetChem’s specialty chemicals presence and capture new revenue streams.

The group has made significant strides in this segment, most notably with the landmark acquisition of Perstorp Group, a Sweden-based expert in sustainable specialty chemicals, which will see to the expansion of PetChem’s presence through stronger positioning in Asia Pacific markets.

PetChem’s specialty chemicals products include silicones, lube oil additives and chemicals, resin and coatings, engineered fluids, animal nutrition and advanced coatings.