Owens-Illinois (O-I) has appointed Ludovic Valette as global vice president of research and development (R&D).
Valette will be responsible for leading the company's research and development efforts to find new, sustainable and innovative ways of melting and forming glass.
He will lead the execution of the company's current R&D portfolio, while managing the strategic development of the next wave of R&D concept.
Valette joins O-I from The Dow Chemical Company, where he held various leadership positions over the past 13 years.
He holds a master's degree in material sciences and engineering, and a Ph.D. in macromolecular chemistry and composites from the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, France. He has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals and holds more than 25 granted patents and patent applications.
Valette's career at Dow spanned three continents and included global leadership experience. Most recently he led a team of more than 100 employees in the global R&D organisation for Dow's epoxy business.
Valette joins O-I as construction of the company's Innovation Center nears completion.
The Innovation Center will help advance new concepts and qualify emerging technologies that could revolutionise glass melting and forming. The centre is expected to begin pilot operations in Q4 this year.
