Brian Gladden became president and chief executive officer of Sabic Innovative Plastics LP in August 2007, when Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-based Saudi Basic Industries Corp. closed its deal to acquire GE Plastics for $11.6 billion. Now a business unit of the Saudi parent company, Sabic Innovative Plastics remains based in Pittsfield, Mass., and has manufacturing sites and technology centers in more than 60 location in 21 countries.
The company is a global leader in production of polycarbonate, ABS and other engineering resins, and a significant maker of specialty films and sheet as well as polymer shapes. When still known as GE Plastics, the 11,000-employee firm reported global 2006 profit of $674 million on sales $6.65 billion.
Gladden began his career at General Electric Co. in 1989. He has held a variety of top leadership roles within the company, including executive audit manager of the corporate audit staff; chief financial officer for GE Healthcare's medical information-technology business; global integration manager for the acquisition of Marquette Medical Systems; and vice president, finance and CFO for GE Plastics. In August 2005, GE Plastics named Gladden vice president and general manager of its resins businesses.
Gladden attended the Millersville University of Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelors of arts degree in finance in 1987.