Home / News / Nonwovens association INDA adds new members to BoD

Nonwovens association INDA adds new members to BoD

03 Mar '21

4 min read

Pic: INDA

INDA, the association of the nonwoven fabrics industry, has announced the membership election of seven industry leaders to serve on its board of directors, for a three-year term. These accomplished professionals represent a cross-section of INDA membership and bring a high level of expertise and insight to the management of the association.

Richard Altice, president and CEO of NatureWorks has been added as a member. Prior to joining NatureWorks, a producer of PLA bioresins, in 2018, Altice was senior vice president and president of designed structures and solutions at PolyOne and held the vice president role of Hexion’s global specialty epoxy business focused on coatings and composites. He has an engineering background with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, INDA said.

The second member, Ashish Diwanji, is the president of Lydall Performance Materials. Diwanji oversees the filtration media business of Lydall. Before joining as president in 2020, Diwanji served as Lydall’s senior vice president, innovation and chief technology officer. Diwanji earned his Bachelor of Technology degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay. He is earned both Master’s and Doctorate degrees in materials science from the University of Delaware, according to INDA.

Lee Ellen Dreschler, senior vice president corporate R&D at Procter & Gamble (P&G), is the third member. Dreschler has held technical leadership roles across beauty care, baby care and corporate R&D, with responsibilities from upstream disruptive innovation to downstream product supply. She leads corporate transformative platform technology (TPT), global packaging, process, and open innovation disciplines, and Glad JV organisations with a mission to continue building P&G’s long-held reputation as a world leader of growth driven by innovation.

Barbara Lawless, business director, nonwoven medical fabrics at Precision Fabrics, is the next new member. As the business director, Lawless is responsible for sales, marketing and new product development for single-use nonwoven medical fabrics. She began her career in product development and has been with Precision Fabrics for over 29 years, INDA said in a media statement.

The next new member is David K. Smith, senior vice president engineered performance products autovation, Milliken & Company. Smith leads a large and diverse global business team with P&L and functional responsibilities including sales, marketing, finance and research and development. In his current role, he is responsible for Milliken’s global industrial business which serves the automotive, bedding, building and construction, tape, tire and mechanical rubber goods, cable management and specialty industrial markets.

Mike Tuck, VP global product supply, procurement, and manufacturing, Owens and Minor Products Div, is the sixth new member elected. Tuck joined Kimberly-Clark in 1994 and served with the company through the transition to Halyard Health, now part of Owens and Minor. He is responsible for leading global manufacturing, sourcing, procurement, and contract manufacturing for Owens and Minor’s products division supplying PPE and other products. Tuck also leads the Shanghai contract manufacturing, sourcing, and procurement team that leverages Owens and Minor’s vertical integration to serve customers worldwide. Tuck has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida with a Minor in Business. He recently completed the general management programme at Wharton Business School with a focus in finance, INDA said.

Robert Weilminster, president, US & Canada for hygiene, Berry Global, is the next new member. Weilminster has been with Berry Global since 1994, serving in leadership roles across sales and marketing, finance, corporate development and operations in supplying nonwoven materials to hygiene and other markets. Prior to Berry Global, he was CFO of Poly-Seal. Weilminster is a graduate of Loyola University, Maryland, INDA said in a press release.

“This year’s group of new board members bring a strong set of strategic skills, experience, and insights to INDA. We value their insights in helping us create and adjust business services environment conducive to the long-term success of our industry. We look forward to developing, under their guidance, even more value and means to meet the changing needs of our members and the industry,” Dave Rousse, INDA president said in a statement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

More INDA - Association of Non Woven Fabrics Industry News...