Driving its transformation further, Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) has announced several leadership changes, which “will play a key role in taking us to the next level,” said CEO Andrew Liveris. All changes are effective immediately.

Jim Fitterling, currently serving as senior vice president Corporate Development, will become president of the group’s Plastics and Hydrocarbons division as well as executive vice president. Currently serving as senior vice president Basic Plastics, Hydrocarbons & Energy & JVs, Juan Luciano has been named president of a new Performance division, which will incorporate the former Performance Products and Performance Systems divisions. He will also serve as Dow executive vice president.

Aside from his existing duties as president and CEO of Advanced Materials, Jerome Peribere has been appointed group executive vice president. Senior vice president Basic Chemicals Carol Williams will also take on the role as president of the Chemicals and Energy division as well as Dow group senior vice president.

Heinz Haller, executive vice president of Performance Systems and Marketing and Sales, has been appointed chief commercial officer. As part of his new responsibilities Haller will oversee all marketing and sales activities as well as the group’s new business growth activities, including joint ventures and subsidiaries. He will also act as leading representative for Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) and Dow Kokam (www.dowkokam.com) and oversee operations at Dow AgroSciences, Asia Pacific. Haller has also been tasked with the company’s new Olympics Business unit as well as with overseeing the group’s Latin American activities.

Last but not least, Jim McIlvenny, senior vice president Performance Products, will now act as senior vice president of mega projects, including the proposed joint venture for an integrated manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia as well as the Yulin Integrated Chemicals project in China. McIlvenny also serves as senior vice president of the Dow group.