Trinseo | Trinseo CEO Chris Pappas Announces Plans to Retire in 2019; Search Underway for Successor

December 11, 2018

Trinseo CEO Chris Pappas Announces Plans to Retire in 2019; Search Underway for Successor

Trinseo (NYSE: TSE), a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, today announced that Christopher D. Pappas, President and Chief Executive Officer, has announced his plans to retire in 2019.

Trinseo’s Board of Directors engages in ongoing succession planning and intends to name a successor soon. Pappas plans to help support a smooth and seamless transition to the company’s next chief executive officer.

Pappas said, “I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished at Trinseo in the last eight years – from the Company’s formation in 2010 via spin-off from Dow Chemical, through its ownership by private equity with Bain Capital Partners, to an initial public offering and listing on the NYSE in 2014, followed by further expansion through acquisition and market-driven growth. The Company has incredibly talented people, a strong financial position, and an agile, values-based culture that positions Trinseo for a bright and exciting future.”

Stephen M. Zide, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Chris for his leadership, vision and countless contributions to Trinseo. Chris has been at the helm since the beginning when the Company was formed more than eight years ago. The Board has the utmost respect and appreciation for Chris’ leadership, and all of us wish Chris the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”

About Chris Pappas

Pappas has had a 40-plus year distinguished career in the chemicals and plastics industry, and is an accomplished leader of complex global businesses. In his role as Trinseo's President and CEO, he led the company's formation and global growth.

Pappas started his career at The Dow Chemical Company, and later moved to senior leadership roles at DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC, and NOVA Chemicals Corporation where he held roles including Chief Operating Officer and President and CEO.

He was named to lead Trinseo (formerly known as Styron) in March 2010, and assumed the role in June 2010 upon the sale of Trinseo from Dow to Bain Capital Partners. Pappas also serves on the Board of Directors for FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) and Univar Inc. (NYSE: UNVR).

In November, Institutional Investor magazine ranked Pappas as the #1 CEO among mid-cap publicly traded chemical companies for 2018, based on voting from investors and sell-side research analysts. In 2017, Pappas received the Leadership Award for Outstanding Corporate Reinvention from the American Chemical Society’s New York Section for his visionary leadership, focus on safety and technology, financial discipline, and for Trinseo’s growth, in which the company tripled in value between 2014 and 2017.

Pappas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the External Advisor Board for Georgia Tech’s School of Civil & Environmental Engineering. He is married and has three children.

Headshot of Chris Pappas