With an increased focus on driving innovation, Ashland has announced that Dr. Osama Musa, vice president, global research and development (R&D), has been promoted to the newly created position of chief technology officer. He also assumes leadership responsibility for advanced materials.

Recently while leading R&D for Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Musa focused on ingredients and solutions for global consumer and industrial markets with responsibility for the company’s global technology platforms including molecular and measurement science, process research, biofunctionals, acrylates and microencapsulation, upstream research, preservatives and microbial technology.

With his appointment to chief technology officer, Musa becomes responsible for the overall coordination of Ashland’s technical resources and will lead the Ashland Technology Council, which will drive technical excellence across the company. He will also lead a Multifunctional Innovation Team, which will further enhance the innovation pipeline, metrics and processes for driving new products faster into the market.

Musa joined Ashland in 2008 when it acquired International Specialty Products. He previously held technical and leadership positions at National Starch/ICI and Henkel. He holds more than 50 issued U.S. patents and has authored numerous technical publications.

“Osama continuously demonstrates passionate leadership focused on solving tough consumer challenges,” says Luis Fernandez-Moreno, Ashland senior vice president and president of the Chemicals Group. “He has led the integration of Ashland’s core technology platforms to deliver unique solutions to our customers in markets as diverse as pharmaceutical, personal care, nutrition and coatings, to name a few. I am confident that under his leadership, our teams will be able to further develop unique solutions that will continue to differentiate Ashland and enhance growth.”

Dr. Musa earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Wayne State University, where he also completed a post-doctoral fellowship. He received an M.S. in polymer chemistry from the University of Detroit Mercy, an M.S. degree in heterocyclic organic chemistry from the University of Jordan, and a B.S. in chemistry from Yarmouk University.

Ashland
www.ashland.com