For its "Vinyls" division, Teknor Apex (Pawtucket, Rhode Island / USA; www.teknorapex.com) has named Mike Patel as the new director for marketing and business development. In his new role, Patel has global responsibilities for product development strategy as well as the coordination of marketing, sales, technical, and manufacturing activities. He will oversee brand management of "Apex" flexible and rigid vinyl, "BioVinyl" compounds containing bio-based plasticisers, "Flexalloy" vinyl elastomers, "Fireguard" low-flame, low-smoke wire and cable compounds, and "Halguard" halogen-free compounds for wire and cable.

He joined the privately held US custom compounder in 2004 as an industry manager for wire and cable in the Vinyls division.