Toray Plastics America Appoints its First American Executive Vice President

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.—Toray Plastics America, Inc., North American manufacturer of precision-performance, value-added polypropylene and polyester films, announces the appointment of Richard Schloesser to the position of executive vice president. Schloesser, a 17-year veteran with Toray Plastics America, Inc., is the first American in the Japanese company’s history to be appointed to that position. In his new role as executive vice president, and as part of Toray Industries’ new Localization Program, a global growth strategy that calls for locally based management, Schloesser will provide unified American leadership to Toray Plastics America, Inc., which includes the Torayfan Division (polypropylene) and Lumirror Division (polyester), and to the Virginia based Toray Plastics America PEF Division (olefin foams). Toray Plastics America, Inc., founded in 1985, and Toray Plastics America PEF Division, founded in 1996, are subsidiaries of Toray Industries, the world leader in the manufacture of synthetic fibers and textiles, carbon fibers, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and high-performance films, with annual sales exceeding $12 billion.

Schloesser has served as senior vice president and general manager of the Torayfan Division since 2002. He began his tenure with Toray Plastics America Inc. in 1990 as a sales and marketing manager of that division and eventually held positions as vice president of sales and marketing and senior vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to joining Toray Plastics America, Inc., Schloesser was with Exxon Mobil, including 13 years with the company’s oil business and 10 years with the films division.

“We are honored by Rick Schloesser’s dedication, enthusiastic leadership, extraordinary expertise, and the countless contributions he has made to the company and are very pleased to announce this well-deserved, historic appointment,” says Kojiro Maeda, president, Toray Plastics America, Inc. “Rick has consistently driven profitability and production efficiency and we are fortunate to have him guiding Toray Plastics America, Inc. and Toray Plastics America PEF Division as we embark on this new journey.”

The company also announces four other senior-level management promotions which will further support the Localization Program strategy and enhance growth initiatives.

Michael Brandmeier has been appointed vice president and general manager of the Torayfan Division, having previously served as vice president. Brandmeier joined Toray Plastics America, Inc. in 1995 as a sales and marketing manager of the Torayfan Division after a long, successful career with Mobil Chemical Company’s film division.

Scott Van Winter is now the director and general manager of the Lumirror Division, having been promoted from the position of Director of Sales and Marketing. Van Winter joined Toray Plastics America, Inc. in 2004 with 14 years of experience in the plastic-film industry, immediately following a stint as vice president of OPS sheet and specialty films for Alcoa Kamma Company.

Jeffrey Lippy has been appointed general manager of Toray Plastics America PEF Division. Lippy joined the PEF division team in 1996 after nearly a decade with Tenneco Packaging (now PACTIV). Lippy has served the PEF Division in a variety of leadership positions, including general manager and director of sales, as well as been president of the Toray automotive group of North America.

Christopher Roy has been named director of sales and marketing of the Torayfan Division. He has been the division’s director of national sales since 2005. Roy joined the Torayfan sales team in 1998 after seven successful years with Mid-America Plastics, Inc., where he eventually rose to become vice president.

“Each executive involved in the additional promotions brings a wealth of experience which will be invaluable to our immediate and long-term success,” says Maeda.