Celanese Announces Office of Strategic Growth

The organizational change will accelerate the company’s growth by speeding new technologies and innovations into the market.

Celanese has announced an organizational change, called the Office of Strategic Growth. This new initiative, which took effect in late 2009, partners with Celanese’s businesses to:

• Enrich its project and technologies portfolio to better align with customer strategies and strengthen the Celanese manufacturing processes;
• Accelerate the improvement of innovation processes to increase the company’s ability to innovate and create value for the company and its customers; and
• Build best-in-class capabilities and talent in critical areas.

The Office of Strategic Growth will be accountable to Celanese’s senior executive officers. It consists of two key leaders: Michael Stubblefield, formerly general manager of the company’s AT Plastics Division, serves as chief Marketing officer; and Jon Mortimer, who was responsible for the AEM manufacturing operations, assumes the role of chief Technology officer. Two individuals were chosen for the new office based on the innovation concept “Two in a Box,” in which two employees essentially work the same role. This partners the commercial or customer-focused efforts with the technology-focused efforts to increase Celanese’s ability to get paid for innovation, according to the company. The concept directly links customer needs and value creation.

Celanese sees the initiative as an opportunity to enhance its growth and innovation. “We have proven that by leveraging a Center of Excellence concept, such as those in manufacturing or Six Sigma, we can create and drive sustainable growth and productivity,” said Dave Weidman, Celanese chairman and CEO. “The Office of Strategic Growth will operate with a similar charter - establishing best practices and driving those standards of excellence in partnership with our businesses to support customer-focused innovation and growth.”

The company says the new office allows them to take a broad look at people, process and portfolio across the company and make the appropriate changes.

The office will be based at Celanese’s corporate headquarters in Dallas.

About the Company

A global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corp. makes products found in consumer and industrial applications, all of which are manufactured in North America, Europe, and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.4 billion in 2007, with over 70% generated outside of North America. Based in Dallas, the company employs approximately 8,400 employees worldwide.

For more information, visit www.celanese.com.

Links

• Celanese