Former allnex Global Technical Director (Crosslinker Business Team) joins The ChemQuest Group

The ChemQuest Group has hired one of its many longstanding clients, Mr Robert J. (Bud) Equi, as a Director to support clientele who are assessing new technology, process and market opportunities. Bud has 40+ years of experience in global business management, business development and technology management within industrial B2B markets, including all aspects of innovation-driven business development.

His work experience has spanned the Americas, Eastern Asia, and Western Europe has culminated in many successful strategic growth opportunities. Bud’s long tenure has also included facilitating problem solving teams, work on due diligence activities, change management and integration activities, which are essential parts of successful company transitions.

After earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (1979) – Bud Equi launched his specialty chemicals’ career at Rohm & Haas Company starting in Sales and subsequently as Market Manager, Specialty Additives. In the interim, he completed an MBA in Industrial Marketing and Finance at the University of Chicago.

In 1991, as Johnson Polymer’s Americas Region Coatings Marketing Manager, Bud Equi targeted attractive specialty segments, delivering new differentiated product launches which led to increased sales among major regional accounts. Subsequent roles included Americas Marketing Group Leader – Printing & Packaging, Global Business Director – Coatings and culminating in his responsibilities as Vice President of New Business Development. In this capacity he managed an integrated global growth focused team spanning in Synthesis, Applications, Physical Science and Business Development. Mr. Equi held this position through 2002 when he left Johnson Polymers to join allnex.

During his tenure at allnex (2002–2019), a global leader in industrial coating resins and additives, Mr. Equi contributed through a variety of technical management, marketing and business development roles. At Allnex, his broad accomplishments include:

• Management of R&D, Technical Service and Marketing to improve idea assessment processes, deliver new products, balance portfolio risk and increase response to key accounts.
• Initiate new platforms to deliver products to satisfy market demand for products with reduced exposure to chemicals of concern
• Guided market research to satisfy unmet market needs by developing new products or optimizing existing products.
• Championed prioritization of a "market-segment focused” organization to focus internal resources on profitable segments.
• Contribute to 5-year Strategic Planning with focus on global vs. regional needs, new market entry and acquisition opportunities.
• Championed lab work to identify the development and implementation of process improvements at global manufacturing sites.

"As a repeat client of ChemQuest’s on a variety of projects over the past 30-years,” Bud Equi reflects, "I have always been impressed with the team’s deep knowledge and ability to deliver quality solutions that consistently added tangible value. The addition of ChemQuest Technology Institute’s expertise and application capabilities has distinguished the practice from its peers. It is a pleasure to now be able to work alongside ChemQuest colleagues delivering this world class service to clients across the coatings and specialty chemicals value chain.”

ChemQuest CEO Dan Murad remarked, "We warmly welcome Bud Equi as Director whose decades-long experience will aid ChemQuest clients in developing profitable, seamless solutions to inherent specialty chemicals’ complexities to include business strategy, sophisticated application research, commercial and operational efficiencies, and growth objectives (both organic and inorganic).” Contact ChemQuest at [email protected] for details.