Chevron Oronite recently announced that Ron Kiskis is retiring on August 31, 2013 after 13 years as the company's president. During Kiskis' tenure as president, the company demonstrated steady improvement in safe and reliable operations and achieved strong overall performance that has the company poised for growth, both in terms of developing new additive technology and further expanding its global supply chain. Mike Wirth, Chevron's executive vice president for Downstream & Chemicals, stated "Ron's commitment to operational excellence has been a trademark of his leadership and we are extremely grateful for his many contributions that have helped solidify Oronite as a leader in the additives industry".
The company also announced that Desmond (Des) King, who will join Oronite in June, will officially become its new president on September 1. King comes to Oronite with both operational and commercial expertise as the current president of Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) and the former Managing Director and CEO of Caltex Australia, Ltd. He has a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), and served as president of the organization in 2010-2011.
Jirong Xiao will become the vice president of sales and marketing, and Barbara Smith will become the vice president of products and technology. These changes will become effective on June 1, 2013 when Colin Parfitt, who is the current vice president of sales and marketing, becomes the president of supply and trading in Chevron's recently realigned Gas and Midstream organization.
Xiao has been the vice president of products and technology for Oronite since 2006. He joined Chevron Research and Technology Company as a research engineer in 1990, and in 1997 became an area business manager in technology marketing. He held other positions of increasing responsibility within the downstream group including assignments in Chevron's Global Marketing organization. Xiao graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the East China Institute of Chemical Technology in Shanghai, and has a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT.
Smith has been the senior business manager for refinery strategy at Chevron's Richmond, Ca., USA, refinery since 2010 after having spent time as technical manager at the same facility. Smith began her career with Chevron as a research engineer in catalyst and process development in 1989, which led to technical and leadership roles focusing on new technologies. In 2000, Smith became strategic planning manager for the downstream technology company and an advisor to senior leadership regarding the management of governance processes and other significant business issues. Smith graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Canterbury. She has a master's degree in technology and policy, as well as a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT.
Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron Oronite maintains three regional offices in Houston (Americas Region), Paris (Europe-Africa-Middle East Region), and Singapore (Asia-Pacific Region); manufacturing sites in Belle Chasse, Louisiana (USA), Gonfreville (France), Singapore, and Mauá (Brazil); an affiliated blending and shipping plant in Omaezaki, Japan; and affiliated sales and manufacturing operations in India and Mexico.
