Phil Spanninger assumed his current post with Americhem Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in January 2003. He is responsible for international operations and business development, and presently is leading the company´s efforts to build a plant in China. Americhem (www.americhem.com) produces custom color concentrates, additive concentrates and specialty dispersions for the plastics industry.
Spanninger has 30 years of global business development and operational experience. From 1997 to December 2001, he was based in Hong Kong and served as vice president of international business development for TRW Inc., with direct responsibility for the Asia Pacific region. TRW then had automotive, aeropace and information systems businesses.
Spanninger also held positions at Akron, Ohio-based GenCorp Inc., where, from 1994, he was corporate VP of international. From 1988-94, he was VP of international at GenCorp Automotive. While there, he established two joint ventures with Japanese auto parts companies, several licensing arrangements and led an acquisition in Germany.
Prior to joining GenCorp, he held several management positions with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he had broad responsibility for technology and venture management, including chemical and JV operations, joint ventures, and technology licensing.
A native of Quakertown, Pa., Spanninger holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the Philadelphia University. He earned his master´s in polymer chemistry and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from South Carolina´s Clemson University. Prior to joining Goodyear, he did National Institutes of Health post-doctorate studies for two years at the University of Texas (Austin).