AkzoNobel makes new personal care executive appointments

The technical team appointments include Ewelina Pitusiak, as technical skin care manager and Christl Kagiyama as project leader for the skin and sun care technical service team, while Devon Cocuzza has been appointed technical service chemist and Mulang Chen as marketing specialist.

AkzoNobel has been expanding its global footprint in the personal care segment, most recently with the acquisition of new surfactants business, Boxing Oleochemicals, China, together with the launch of a raft of new and increasingly functional polymer ingredients.

Appointment support business expansion​

The three appointments in the technical department respond to the increase in research and development that have been required in the launch of recent products that have included Biostyle CGP, a sustainable hair styling polymer and Celquat SC-140C polymer surfactant.

In her new position Pitusiak will be leading the skin care technical team, heading up development initiatives for leave-on skin care, rinse-off skin care and sun care products. Specific responsibilities will include providing technical direction within the team for all projects and inquires, as well as providing technical product management duties.

Formerly Pitusiak worked at Coty as a group leader, where she was involved in product development management within the research and development environment.

Focus on skin and sun care​

Likewise, Kagiyama will be a project leader with the skin and sun care technical service team, and will be responsible for interfacing internally with the global personal care sales, marketing, product development and manufacturing divisions, reporting directly to Pitusiak.

Cocuzza is the third technical team appointment, as the new technical service chemist, a role that will mean responsibilities for synthesis and evaluation of new polymeric ingredient for a variety of personal care applications.

Finally, Chen has been appointed to the marketing team as a markeing specialist and will be responsible for day-to-day support for global launch of new personal care ingredients, as well as conducting customer analysis to help gauge business requirements.