Global resin distributor Nexeo Plastics has named Paul Tayler as its new chief executive officer.
Tayler has been with The Woodlands, Texas-based Nexeo since early 2018. He had been based in Barcelona as vice president of the firm's European division.
The appointment is effective Sept. 1. Officials announced the move in an Aug. 31 news release.
Interim CEO Michael Modak will transition his responsibilities to Tayler and remain a member of Nexeo's board of directors. In the release, officials described Tayler as "a seasoned commercial business leader with extensive experience in the plastics and specialty materials industries."
They added that in his time at Nexeo, Tayler "has implemented strategic improvements to the company's [Europe, Middle East and Africa] business that have contributed to its significant international growth."
Tayler has more than 30 years of industry experience, including nine years with materials maker DSM Engineering Plastics, most recently as commercial vice president of the Asia-Pacific region for that firm.
After DSM, Tayler spent more than a year as vice president of global sales and marketing for British plastic films supplier Innovia Films. Earlier in his career, Tayler was with London-based plastics and chemicals supplier Imperial Chemical Industries plc for almost 20 years in a variety of management roles.
In the release, Modak said that following the recent realignment of its North American sales organization, Nexeo "is poised to further bolster its position as the global resin distributor of choice under new leadership."
He added that Tayler "is a respected leader across our organization who has achieved incredibly strong performance and established the Nexeo Plastics brand throughout Europe and other international markets."
Tayler said in the release that "having seen the tremendous potential for Nexeo Plastics through our success overseas, I will strive to continue unlocking value and innovation for our customers and suppliers alike alongside the company's exceptional team."
Modak had served as interim CEO since June. He replaced Shawn Williams, who left the company. Modak is a chemicals and plastics veteran who also is an operating partner at Nexeo majority owner One Rock Capital Partners LLC.
The recent North American sales realignment at Nexeo expanded the firm's inside sales team and increased its application development and technical service resources. Officials previously said those changes will enable Nexeo to better serve new and existing large, midsized and small customers across a range of end markets.
In a recent interview with Plastics News, Modak said that Nexeo's business held up fairly well during the COVID-19 pandemic but that the firm "doesn't want to be lulled into a false sense of optimism."
"Our order book is strong, and we hope that continues. It could be refilling or a bit of destocking," he said. "Customers are smart with what demand looks like. The wild card is how strong they come back."
Nexeo has annual sales estimated at around $2 billion. The firm distributes resins and compounds in North America, Europe and Asia for more than 30 suppliers.