Leadership

With more than 20 years of experience, Sameer is a proven strategic leader with a track record of fostering business growth through technology-led innovation, operational excellence and talent development across the advanced materials, technology, energy and pharmaceutical industries.

Since joining Orbia in 2016 to lead the compounds business group, Sameer has assumed leadership of the Alphagary, Koura and Vestolit commercial brands and brought Orbia’s fluorine-based and PVC and vinyl polymer compound solution portfolios to competitive market positions and his global teams to high levels of performance. Prior to joining Orbia, Sameer held numerous executive leadership positions over the course of an 11-year tenure at Cabot Corporation, most recently as Vice President and General Manager, where he steered go-to-market strategy and commercialization of new technologies with a key focus in the energy and materials spaces. Before that, Sameer worked as a strategy consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, where he served clients in the metals, telecommunications, technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He started his career as a senior research engineer at The Dow Chemical Company.

Sameer has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Ph.D in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Bombay.

Nick is an accomplished executive with extensive global experience in the chemical and manufacturing industries. He has a track record of developing and executing strategy, enhancing operations and delivering top- and bottom-line results.

Prior to joining Orbia in 2020, Nick served for eight years as an Executive Vice President of Nexans SA, a worldwide leader in the cable industry, where he led the company’s Asia Pacific business division. Nick also served as a director of Nexans Foundation, where he helped steer efforts to bring electricity to disadvantaged communities throughout the world. Nick´s prior experiences include consulting work at Cathedral Hill Advisory, Samudera Shipping in Indonesia and an early career at Cabot Corporation where he was instrumental in the spin-out of Cabot LNG.  Nick is currently a board member at Samudera. 

Nick holds a Master of International Management degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a B.S. degree from St. Cloud State University.

Peter joined Orbia in 2018 to lead the Dura-Line brand. Having held multiple executive positions in Cisco’s EMEA and emerging markets operations, Peter has great knowledge and vision on how to improve lives through data. Prior to his work at Cisco, Peter was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, serving clients in the chemicals, automotive, airline, and banking sectors.

He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained his MBA and management of technology degree. 

Over the course of 17 years, Gaby gained deep knowledge of Netafim’s global customer base and agriculture markets spanning geographies from holding positions including Chief Financial Officer for Latin America, Managing Director of Netafim Mexico, Vice President of the Americas, Vice President of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and most recently as Senior Vice President and President of the Americas at Netafim.

Gaby holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a focus in Accounting and Finance from Tel Aviv University. He is also a certified accountant in Israel.

A chemical engineer by training with over 20 years of management experience in the chemical industry, Gautam has led wide-ranging business transformation efforts that unlock significant value.

Since joining Orbia in 2017, Gautam has elevated Alphagary to an industry leadership position on the back of providing innovative solutions tailored to customer needs. Prior to joining Orbia, Gautam held executive leadership roles spanning marketing, strategy and general management for Honeywell, DuPont and Unilever. He has lived and worked in Southeast Asia and Europe during his tenure at DuPont and Unilever. 

Gautam holds a PhD in chemical technology from the University of Twente, an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Bombay.

Maarten previously managed Wavin, which is part of the Building & Infrastructure group. He has almost three decades of experience in the plastics and packaging industry, during which time he headed Wavin’s overseas business in the Benelux and Northwest regions, before being appointed to the Wavin management board in 2010. Maarten also is a member of The European Pipe and Fitting Association (TEPPFA).

Maarten holds a master’s degree in business economics from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Gregg has over three decades of global experience in the specialty materials and chemicals industries, with an established track record in general management, business development, entrepreneurship and technology development that unlocks growth.

Since joining Orbia in 2018, Gregg has led Koura to a competitive position in the fluorine value chain by expanding into existing and new verticals where fluorine is essential. Prior to joining Orbia, Gregg held executive leadership roles spanning operations, commercial and business development and technology at Cabot Corporation.  He has had a successful history as a corporate entrepreneur and technology developer with the creation of new businesses and materials for inkjet and electrophotographic printing, carbon-reinforced composites and lithium-ion battery technologies.

Gregg holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

With more than 25 years of experience, Deb is an accomplished human resources leader, team builder and culture steward who brings a pragmatic and creative approach to driving business value. Having worked across the technology, consulting, life sciences and now industrial  sectors in a global capacity, Deb has expertise in talent attraction and retention, acquisition integrations, executive and employee compensation models and supporting transformational performance and change management initiatives. Prior to joining Orbia, Deb served as PerkinElmer’s global CHRO and was the architect behind the company’s people strategy. Prior to PerkinElmer, Deb spent 17 years with IBM, living and working in both the U.S and Europe in leadership roles where she enhanced the company’s global HR programs and led an enterprise-wide talent transformation. Deb started her career in a software start up with Lotus Development in 1991, where she held progressive leadership roles until IBM acquired Lotus in 1999.

Deb holds a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Human Resources from The University of Bath in England and a postgraduate diploma in Human Resources from the University of London.

Edgardo is a tech-savvy finance expert with expertise in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and process improvement. He provides the board with a unique and valuable perspective on financial and risk management in the manufacturing business and is a visionary leader who drives results. He has gained varied international experience through leading M&A processes worldwide and executing IPOs in the US and Europe.

Prior to his position at Orbia, Edgardo served as global CFO of Tenaris, with responsibilities over administration, finance, IT, and overseeing 1,200 employees worldwide. He was a strategic partner for business development, with a strong focus on capital deployment and asset utilization. Previously, Edgardo worked at Sidor and participated in the privatization process of one of the largest steel mills in Latin America. He had an active role in the restructuring of debt after a crisis during which steel prices plunged to the lowest point in years.

Edgardo holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Sloan Fellows Program), completed executive programs at Wharton and Stanford University and graduated as a public accountant from the National University of La Plata (UNLP) in Argentina.

Prior to joining Orbia, Sheldon worked at Amneal Pharmaceuticals, where he was a member of the executive leadership team. Sheldon has significant experience handling the legal and compliance matters affecting international pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Actavis, and Progenics Pharmaceuticals. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, licensing, securities, and corporate governance.

Sheldon holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and acquired a juris doctor degree from Columbia Law School.

Being an entrepreneur himself, Shai founded a successful start-up and served in business development and marketing roles in several other start-ups. Today he is a mentor and an active investor to several start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Before joining Orbia in 2018, Shai led the Product Management, Product Marketing, and Strategic Crops units at Netafim. Prior to his position at Netafim, Shai worked as a project manager at McKinsey & Co., providing global multinational companies with guidance on a broad range of strategic, organizational and M&A topics.

Shai holds a BA in computer science with distinction from the IDC and an MBA from INSEAD.

With over 35 years of experience in the specialty materials and chemicals industries, John has expertise in safety best practices, environmental compliance, process optimization and strategic project execution and a track record in steering process, program and commercial improvements that drive efficiencies as well as growth.

Since joining Orbia in 2018, John has led the Health, Safety & Environment and Engineering teams for Koura,  Alphagary and recently Vestolit to new levels of operational excellence. Prior to joining Orbia, John held executive leadership roles spanning operations, business development and capital project engineering and process optimization at Cabot Corporation, where he additionally developed and patented several carbon-black products and technologies.

John holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mike is a proven strategic and technology leader with more than 20 years of experience working with diverse groups of businesses to help them modernize their capabilities and achieve their strategic objectives.

Before joining Orbia, Mike held several leadership positions at Cargill Incorporated, most recently as VP of Global Information Technology, where he supported his team in addressing pressing data and digital needs, sharing best practices and training and improving efficiency, agility and service delivery. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from William Penn University and an MBA from St. Ambrose University.

Under Cristina’s leadership, Orbia has increased its ESG reporting transparency and scope, committed to ambitious environmental goals, improved the assessment of its supply chain and launched programs of social and environmental impact. She and her team were instrumental in Orbia joining the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in 2019. The Company became a member of UN Global Compact two years ago, signed the CEO Water Mandate in 2019, and committed to the Business Ambition for 1.5 C.

Previous to Orbia, Cristina’s career developed mainly in the nonprofit sector, more specifically in the environmental conservation and education spaces. Some of the organizations she has worked for are The Nature Conservancy, Pronatura Noreste, Rare Conservation and Fundación Educa. Today, she is a board member of Jimbere Fund, World Environment Center, Centro Intercultural de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos A.C. and Smartest Energy.

Cristina holds a chemistry degree from Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, and a master’s degree in environmental studies from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico.

Before joining Orbia in 2008, he worked for companies including AVON, Becton Dickinson, DUPONT, and Dow Chemical.

Jorge Luis holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MBA from Universidad Iberoamericana. He also holds CIA and CSA certificates accredited by the Florida Institute of Internal Auditors.