Total Corbion PLA (Gorinchem / The Netherlands; www.total-corbion.com), a leading producer of PLA and lactide from lactic acid derivatives, has had a new CEO since October 2020. Thomas Philipon took over the reins from his predecessor Stephane Dion in autumn, the company said in a statement. The move set up the board structure and management for the time being at the joint venture between Total (Paris / France; www.total.com) and Corbion (Gorinchem; www.corbion.com). The news of Chiel Rievelt – who has been responsible for the finances of the biopolymer producer since February 2020 – serving as the new CFO has also now been made public.

Philipon, who spent 15 years at US suppler DuPont (Wilmington, Delaware; www.dupont.com), said expansion is in the cards. “Our announcement to build a second production site within two years is the clearest sign of our ambition, our dedication to grow with the bioplastics market.” Total Corbion announced in autumn 2020 that it would build a second PLA plant in Granpuits / France, with a capacity of up to 100,000 t/y. This expansion, when it opens, is expected to make Total Corbion the global market leader in 2024 (see Plasteurope.com of 30.09.2020).