Nova Makes Senior Leadership Changes

NOVA Chemicals recently made strategic senior leadership changes that will allow the company to further bolster the successful implementation of its Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership its, remain at the forefront of sustainable PE resin production, and underscore its commitment to reshaping plastics for a better, more sustainable world.

To solidify NOVA’ leadership in the development of and transition to circular plastics, Greg DeKunder has been named v.p. of NOVA Circular Solutions, a new line of business focused on lower-emission, recycled solutions that will be a key driver in achieving the company’s 2030 aspiration of 30% PE sales being from recycled content. DeKunder’s focus will be on expanding the company’s sustainable product offerings like Syndigo recycled PE – a new portfolio of products made entirely from recycled resins – standing up its state-of-the-art mechanical recycling business and exploring advanced recycling opportunities to meet the growing recycled content needs of its customers.

DeKunder joined the company in 2018 and most recently served as v.p. of PE marketing where he led the efforts of expanding the company’s capabilities and identifying and securing critical growth opportunities for NOVA Circular Solutions while also leading the evolution of the company’s market focus strategy to prepare for NOVA’s AST2 growth project with innovative new products and applications that support NOVA’s customers.

Succeeding DeKunder as v.p. of PE marketing is Sarah Marshall, an over 20-year Nova Chemicals veteran. Marshall has leveraged her decades of experience in research and development in the plastics industry to serve the company in a variety of leadership roles, including PE technical services. Most recently she served as v.p. of sustainability where she built NOVA’s sustainability team and function, operationalized the organization’s 2030Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership, and emerged as a sought-after North American expert on the plastics circular economy, industry decarbonization, and broader sustainability issues.

As v.p. of PE marketing, Marshall will be responsible for driving the company’s market leadership strategy through its Advanced Sclairtech technology platform, continuing to build on her already strong customer relationships, and for leveraging business opportunities throughout the value chain that guide NOVA’s strategic growth as it strives to meet its vision of being the leading sustainable polyethylene producer in North America.

Jennifer Woolfsmith has taken on the role of v.p. sustainability following Marshall’s transition. Another 20+ year NOVA veteran, Woolfsmith most recently served as chief of staff to the CEO, where she worked alongside senior leadership and the board to develop NOVA’s 2030 Roadmap to Sustainability Leadership.

As the v.p. of sustainability, Woolfsmith will leverage her tenured background in finance and governance as well as her strong business leadership capabilities and a passion for sustainability to lead the ongoing development and execution of NOVA’s sustainability strategy. She will also lead internal and external engagement and reporting, while implementing the strategies required to meet the organization’s aspiration of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 absolute CO2 emissions by 30%  by 2030, and achieving net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.