Global Technology & Innovation Executive in Materials

SANJAY WAHAL PhD, MBA

**** *. ********* **, ********, WI 54913 920-***-**** ******.*****@*****.*** ● www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaywahal/ CAREER PROFILE

MIT-trained, growth-oriented executive, innovator, strategist, and technologist with business acumen, general management skills and expertise in engineered materials, biopolymers, nonwovens, chemicals, sustainability, circularity, consumer & industrial products industries, advanced mfg. and extensive progressive experience in major global organizations. Excellent interpersonal, communication, analytical & critical thinking skills. A well- networked contributor who consistently expedites cycle time from concept through development, market launch and commercialization in team environment. Advised Start-ups. Delivered over $100 million of impact to date from successful launch of novel products, materials & technology platforms and new markets/applications uncovered. Well-versed in stage-gate process, quality, statistical & financial tools; 6 Sigma Green Belt.

R&D / Technology / New Product Development / Innovation

Technology Acquisition, Transfer & Commercialization

Intellectual Property Portfolio Development

Advanced Manufacturing Processes / Operations / Quality

Sustainability Strategy / Market Development / Value Chain

Techno-Commercial Feasibility / Scale-up / Due Diligence

JV / M&A / Global Cross-functional Team Leadership

Regulatory / Product Compliance (EPA, FDA, ISO, BPI) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Holder / Co-inventor of twenty-one issued and pending patents. Fourteen papers/presentations in international journals/conferences

• Advisor to MiTerro, an advanced biomaterials company which is engineering biomass waste into biopolymers (2022 - 2024)

• Advisor to Temasek, Global Investment / Private Equity Firm - technical due diligence to facilitate cleantech investment decisions (2021 – 2022)

• Technology Advisor to von Holzhausen, a biobased materials innovation company that is creating sustainable leather alternatives (2021 – 2022)

• Techno-Commercial Strategy Board Team Member - Surface Certification Program, Healthcare Surfaces Institute (2021 - 2022)

• Advisor to Bolt Threads, a biotech materials solution start-up which has developed synthetic leather from mycelium (fungus) (2020 - 2022)

• Technology Advisor to Novalent for the development and commercialization of long-lasting antimicrobial / antibacterial technology (2020 - 2021)

• Board Member – a start-up commercializing bio-carbons platform technology for energy storage / water purification applications (2009 - 2011)

• Recipient of Georgia-Pacific’s Value Creation Award (2009) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FyterTech Nonwovens, De Pere, Wisconsin 2022 - 2025 Sr. Vice President, Technology Innovation, Quality and Product Development Responsible for leading Technology Innovation, Product Development, Quality of Meltblown Nonwovens for Spill Control, Filtration, Medical markets.

• Established R&D base; developed a comprehensive strategy, technology roadmap, and a new product pipeline to double revenue in 5 yr.

• Developed MB products with enhanced biodegradability; conducted pilot trials with PLA, PHA/PHB + PLA, Starch + PP masterbatches.

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GPMI Company (An Envoy Solutions Company), Gilbert, Arizona 2020 - 2022 Vice President, Technology and Product Development (Company recently reorganized under Chapter 12 leading to lay-off) Responsible for leading R&D, Innovation, New Technology and Product Development of Nonwoven Disinfecting, Sanitizing and Cleaning Wipes and commissioning a brand-new wet wipe converting facility, labs & quality systems; growing a start-up team of Chemists, Engineers & Microbiologists.

• Led a Joint Venture with one of the three largest manufacturers of wet wipes – Spunlace, Meltblown and feminine hygiene products in the world) to supply EPA Regd. products to meet increased demand due to pandemic; Sales reached $10 million in 2021.

• Managed scale-up, automation, validation & qualification process of the new liquid plant operations ensuring compliance with SH&E / EPA regulation; provided oversight to mfg. operations for the commissioning of lines. Established Prod. Dev, QA/QC Labs; hired key personnel.

• Developed next generation of sustainable wipes system based on novel antibacterial botanicals formulations compatible with bio-based - flax/hemp/PLA Spunlace nonwovens for the automotive, aerospace and medical markets; developed prototypes of sustainable canisters. DIVERSEY Inc. (A Bain Capital Company), Fort Mill, South Carolina 2019 - 2020 Director, Global R&D, Innovation and Commercialization (Contract Position) Responsible for leading R&D, Innovation, New Technology Development, Commercialization for Infection Prevention globally; leveraging Innovative Disinfectant Chemistries, Nonwovens and Materials to offer differentiated solutions including antimicrobial wipes ensuring compatibility of surfaces being disinfected; leading a global team of Materials Sci., Chemistry, Engineering & Microbiology professionals (2 PhDs, 2 Master’s, 3 Bachelor’s).

• Built a steady pipeline of novel Infection Prevention products in the global innovation portfolio – in various stages of commercialization; established partnership with School of Nanoscience/Nanoengineering (UNC Greensboro) for prototyping, materials compatibility evals.

• Partnering with Environmental Services and Regulatory, led techno-commercial assessment for viability of Electrostatic Sprayer based Disinfection Solutions as rapid response by Diversey to help efficiently mitigate coronavirus pandemic. Sales expected to be $5 million/yr.

• Led due diligence on 3d-Printed UVC based OR / Patient Room Disinfection Technology which reduced onset of infection by 10%.

• Partnered with a UK based company to license / commercialize Self-Disinfecting Cartridges Technology for use on Doors in Hospitals.

• Led development and commercialization of high compatibility AHP & Quat-alcohol wipes (EPA registered) for high-touch surfaces with projected first year sales of $2 million; delivered ~ $500,000/year in cost savings by identifying alternate nonwoven substrates for wipes. Sanjay Wahal, PhD, MBA Page Two

LITTLE RAPIDS CORPORATION (Graham Medical & Beauty), Green Bay, Wisconsin 2016 - 2019 Director, Global Materials R&D and Innovation (Position eliminated due to Reorganization) Responsible for identifying globally new materials, technologies, product opportunities, and converting processes to support NPD and Growth; innovating and maintaining product competitiveness; identifying external partners and business development opportunities overseas including Mideast / Asia region; managing global team based in US along with partners in China and India; and leading Trade Show exhibits.

• Led development and commercialization of disposable premium nonwoven bedding and protective apparels for infection prevention viz. Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and fire-retardant nonwoven blankets for EMS which resulted in revenue of $5 million/year.

• Developed (i) electrospun nano-collagen anti-wrinkle patch (ii) novel meltblown material for facemasks with antimicrobial properties.

• Led the manufacturing team at overseas disposable apparels converting facility to implement quality management system (QMS) to ensure products meet all the necessary AATCC and AAMI requirements (viz. Level 1, 3) for importing isolation, surgical and PPE gowns into US.

• Led a team of four to research and analyze the development value proposition - resulting in a White Paper to promote use of nonwoven disposables replacing linens in acute care and home-heath segments for infection prevention. Potential opportunity worth ~ $5 million/yr.

• Identified external partners based in Dubai and India for business development in EMEA / India regions and to set-up Joint Ventures; led joint development of novel materials with vendors in Europe and Asia to support NPD and realize cost savings. NASi (Nachurs Alpine Solutions Industrial), Marion, Ohio 2014 - 2016 Director, Product Development and Technical Sales (Technical Director) Responsible for managing new product development process internally and externally including in-field implementation of products and processes as well as overall technical sales support and supervising staff; working with outside resources such as labs, universities, advanced materials and chemistry solution providers, industry associations to develop and commercialize new products and applications. Led a team of Chemists/Engineers.

• Successfully collaborated with and led a team of eight external advanced materials Contract R&D Outfit to help develop novel process technologies, formulations, and applications for launching new products – industrial chemicals. Filed three patent applications.

• Led development and commercialization of key products such as K-BLOK, A-SHIELD as drilling / fracking fluid additive(s) for application in oil & gas industry to realize revenue of $4 million; Identified novel application of salt solutions as phase change materials (encapsulated) in transporting biologicals; identified Birla India as alternate supplier of white phosphoric acid to compete in Technical Phosphates market.

• Led development and commercialization of the next generation deicing fluid (potassium formate based) which meets the carbon brake oxidation loss limit, mandated by SAE, and is environmentally friendly which helped defend a $25 million a year of core business. REYNOLDS CONSUMER PRODUCTS, Appleton, Wisconsin 04/2013 - 10/2014 Director, Materials Innovation and New Products (Consulting Position) Responsible for identifying and executing materials, innovation, cost savings, sustainability, and IP opportunities; creating material science roadmap to fill new product pipeline; identifying new bio-based / plant fibers-based materials, products and converting processes to support NPD and maintain competitiveness and supervising engineers. Reported to President (Presto Products) and VP, Innovation.

• Evaluated and implemented novel Starch (TPS)-LLDPE, PLA-LLDPE masterbatches toward biobased extruded blown film for waste bags.

• Led engagements with a premier Technology consulting firm to shortlist viable novel materials/product concepts (i) for more uniform and efficient defrosting of meat and (ii) to extend freshness of produce in plastic food storage bags. Potential revenue of $20 million/year.

• Collaborating with a vendor, led development of Vistamaxx/TPE/LLDPE copolymer resin for high impact strength elastomeric and heat- sealable films for Draw Tape of waste bags, which helped realize revenue of $5 million per year.

• Improved production yield of a manufacturing process for masterbatch by 15% by converting a batch operation into a continuous process which saved $1 million annually; performed ROI analysis to justify capital investment at the pilot plant for improving the overall efficiency.

• Led development of next generation Reynolds Wrap® Non-Stick Aluminum Foil by identifying superior polymeric coating material resulting in improved performance; led development of Slow Cook Liner made of heat-resistant BPA free nylon. CELANESE CORPORATION, Irving, Texas / Appleton, Wisconsin 2011 - 2013 Technology Innovation Leader (Office of Strategic Growth) (Hand-picked for the Special Role) Responsible for driving innovation, understanding technological impact and economics of new products and processes, aligning business units / organizations for innovation effectiveness, bringing in Open Innovation and fostering a culture of adapting to new concepts, using Stage-Gate Process, and supervising a global team of professionals. Partnered with GMs, Strategic Marketing Leaders, Technical Centers and Operations to move novel ideas / concepts / technology across diverse global entities. Reported to CTO and CMO.

• Discovered novel applications of air forming jet process technology to produce unique lofted PP meltblown nonwovens with excellent acoustic and thermal insulation properties for application in auto, appliances, transportation industry and economical acquisition distribution layer (ADL) for personal hygiene products, which realized Licensing Revenue of $2 million per year for Cellulose Acetate Business. Filed four patent applications.

• In collaboration with Strategic Marketing, conducted techno-commercial assessment to determine fit of Celanese high-performance engineered polymers viz. PPS, PBT, TPE in solar energy marketplace; built business case and defined Go-to-Market Strategy.

• Developed CelaireTM, a lofted nonwoven wound gauze material made of biopolymer (cellulose acetate) with excellent natural fluid absorption & wicking characteristics. Conducted techno-commercial assessment; helped build business case & realize $1 million/yr. Sales.

• Led a team of four to develop active food packaging multilayer co-extruded film prototype with improved O2 barrier for enhanced shelf life. Sanjay Wahal, PhD, MBA Page Three

GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC (KOCH INDUSTRIES), Neenah, Wisconsin 2005 - 2011 Research Fellow (Innovation Institute)

Responsible for developing strategy and vision to position projects from inception through completion and evaluating novel technologies for commercial business. Worked closely with wipe business and led cross-functional teams to develop and commercialize nonwoven wiper products.

• Led a cross-functional team to develop and commercialize technical wipers (incorporating proprietary lyocell microfiber platform technology in tissue to compete against Kimberly-Clark) product line for the high-end lenses, aerospace, medical and optical instruments market; this led to generation of $5 million of revenue.

• Invented and commercialized next generation disinfecting nonwoven (spunbond / meltblown) wipes for healthcare industry incorporating novel Quat-compatible antimicrobial technology; delivered shorter bacteria kill-time and helped reduce HAIs. Realized NIAT of $15 million.

• Developed flushable wipes using water-dispersible nanostarch based binder and flax/hemp fibers that passed INDA guidelines; explored & produced prototypes of compostable/biopolymers - PLA, PHB based injection-molded, thermoformed, extrusion-coated cutlery/plates/bowl.

• Developed and managed Intellectual Property strategy for the Nonwoven and Wiper Category and helped with licensing of a key process technology patent which resulted in $1 million per year of revenue. Inventor/Co-inventor of nine patents for work cited above.

• Led a technical-commercial feasibility study to convert cellulosic waste produced by paper-mills to biofuels. Collaborated with key biotechnology (biocatalysts) outfit for pilot-scale proof-of-concept and subsequent validation Built business case and defined strategy with other functions leading to investment in the venture. Potential NPV of $25 million. RTI INTERNATIONAL (Center for Energy Technology), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 2004 - 2005 Senior Business and Technology Development Manager Responsible for identifying, screening, and evaluating new opportunities to attract commercial R&D revenues, assisting in negotiating financial, contractual and intellectual property (IP) issues with clients in a close working relationship with the Office of Corporate Ventures and Entrepreneurship; also working with technical team and external partners to identify development opportunities in Clean Energy.

• Conducted due diligence on a venture capital firm’s proposal to develop a cheaper syngas production technology in conjunction with RTI’s gas clean-up technology for distressed natural gas turbine plants; led a technical team to develop a prototype of fuel cell utilizing hydrogen generated by hydrolysis of Mg/Fe alloy used in Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MRE) Heaters - to market a novel concept to US Army.

• Marketed RTI’s diesel/naphtha desulfurization and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis sorbents to petrochemical industry; created strategic and business development plan to achieve 100% revenue growth within five years; built business cases for key new initiatives / ventures. BUCKEYE TECHNOLOGIES (GEORGIA-PACIFIC LLC), Memphis, Tennessee 1999 - 2004 Manager, Product Development (Absorbent Products / Nonwovens Division) Responsible for leading a start-up team to develop / commercialize nonwoven absorbent products for the personal / health care, wipes, filtration and household cleaning industries – resulting $12 million per year in revenue; interacted with customers to gain insight for product / market development.

• Interacted with customers, led a global cross-functional team to develop & commercialize cellulosic airlaid nonwovens consisting of super absorbent polymers generating sales of $10 million / year, co-developed & commercialized DuoCore, a proprietary absorbent diaper core.

• Co-invented proprietary products and process technologies to launch key products, awarded four patents. Led various pilot- & commercial- scale trials at overseas facilities to scale-up & commercialize airlaid technology. Assisted with the identification / acquisition of Stac-Pac - a nonwoven festooning & packaging technology. Integration of the technology resulted in savings of $5 million per year in Operating Cost.

• Identified and co-implemented a more efficient, FDA approved (21CFR 176.170,180) latex (EVA) emulsion binder for use in adult incontinence products. Resulted in a savings of $1 million/yr.; developed fluoropolymer coated nonwoven fabrics to provide hydrophobic barrier for key application; employed statistical techniques (DOE) to determine key performance attributes for product development. CABOT CORPORATION, Pampa, Texas 1996 - 1999

Senior Engineering Associate - Project Leader (Process Research, Development & Manufacturing) Responsible for managing process development, scale-up, and optimization for commercializing chemically modified carbon black and fumed silica pigment nanodispersions for inkjet, paint and foam global markets; using Stage-gate Process; and supervising six operators and engineers. BROWN AND WILLIAMSON CORPORATION (B.A.T. Industries), Macon, Georgia 1992 - 1996 Research Engineer - Materials and New Technology

Responsible for developing and implementing innovative technologies and carbonaceous adsorbent materials for next generation filters and polymeric packaging films; implemented novel paper having organic coating and inorganic fillers for Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) of cigarettes. EDUCATION

MBA (Strategy & Innovation), VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, Nashville, Tennessee (2004) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1992) PhD, Chemical Engineering (Minor: Polymer Sci.), UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, Kingston, Rhode Island MS, Chemical Engineering (Minor: Materials Sci), UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, Kingston, Rhode Island BS, Chemical Engineering, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Kanpur, INDIA

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