Nova PE leader Bezaire to retire in April

Chris Bezaire is calling it a career after 30 years with Nova Chemicals.

Although he won't turn 53 until April 1, Bezaire — the firm's senior vice president of polyethylene — has been with Nova and predecessor firm DuPont Canada since 1988.

Nova PE marketing Vice President John Thayer will assume Bezaire's role.

Bezaire began his career as a process engineer at a PE site in Sarnia, Ontario, he said in a recent interview with Plastics News. He then held a variety of management roles, including executive positions in investor relations, finance and corporate planning.

In 2011, Bezaire was appointed to Nova's management board.

In a news release, Bezaire said he's been "extremely fortunate with Nova Chemicals to have enjoyed many different roles with great people in different functions and locations."

"I look forward to the next phase of my life, knowing that at Nova Chemicals we've built a solid foundation for significant growth ahead," he added.

Bezaire is exiting at a time when the PE market both at Nova and throughout North America is thriving as a result of low-priced shale gas feedstock.

"The business is in great shape," Bezaire said. "We've been able to accomplish some big things, like the acquisition of the Williams [ethylene] unit and the new PE plant in Sarnia."

He also credited Nova owner Mubadala Investment Co. of Abu Dhabi with providing Nova with the support it needed to grow.

In the release, Nova CEO Todd Karran thanked Bezaire for his contributions to Nova and wished him well in retirement. Bezaire "has been a steady hand in helping to guide the organization throughout a period of significant transformation," Karran said. "His vision and leadership has allowed us to have a clear focus and commitment to our customers."

He added that Thayer's experience and insight "will be a tremendous asset." Thayer has been with Nova since 1997.

Calgary-based Nova ranks as one of North America's largest PE makers. Nova owner Mubadala also is majority owner of Vienna-based petrochemicals firm Borealis AG. Early last year, Nova and Borealis announced the formation of a North American PE and ethylene JV with the Total Petrochemicals unit of French petrochemicals firm Total SA.