Business Director

DAVID A. COWAN

*** ******** ***** ********* ********, PA 16066 724-***-**** *****.**.*****@*****.*** http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidacowan

Senior Executive Profile

Proven leadership and success driving global business development and operations optimizations for Fortune 500 companies in oil / gas derivatives, chemicals, polymers, paper, construction materials and associated downstream products businesses.

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Johns Hopkins MBA and Engineer accomplished in delivering top- and bottom-line growth by differentiating commodity products/materials, repositioning current product technology, introducing new products, rationalizing existing products, and implementing downstream product strategy.

Excel in developing strategies that grow market share organically, by acquisition, and via start-ups.

Experienced in penetrating international markets; leverage unique insight and understanding of global business cultures, including India, Chile, Mexico, and Japan.

Results-driven leader skilled in building high performance teams of top talent and fully equipping each team member by providing development opportunities and cross-functional training.

Areas of Expertise

Growth Strategy Development International Start-ups, Joint Ventures & Acquisitions IP Capture M&A Valuation

Decision & Risk Analysis Strategic Alliances/Partnerships Operational Streamlining Licensing agreements,

JDAs, LOIs, etc. Product Development & Market Launch Value Chain Optimization Product Management

Professional Experience

Armacell International GmbH – Cranberry Township, PA 2009 – October 2011

Global innovator in foam technologies and world leader in market for flexible technical materials.

Global Business Director, PET

Recruited by CEO/Managing Director and CFO to establish global PET foam business targeting wind turbine composite blade, building products, marine, and transportation industries. Direct all facets of business development and operations, including business plan development, performance gap resolution, rapid prototyping, testing and certification, product documentation, marketing, and capital funding. Implement new plant investments, determine best market approaches among partner, pull, push, and licensing, and design optimal organization. Lead staff of 2 direct reports, plus up to 50 project team members. Manage entire P&L and $1M annual expense budget. Participate in Investcorp board meetings and M&A activities.

Major Accomplishments:

Retained $10M annual wind energy supply contract, generated $1M in first-year revenue, and reduced logistics costs 20% by leading North American plant start-up to displace incumbent materials with high margin, 100% recyclable composite systems for world’s largest wind turbine supplier, VESTAS from Denmark.

Developed site selection process, secured government incentives and approvals, crafted LOI/term sheets, negotiated long-term lease agreement, and directed start-up.

Spearheaded successful commercial product launch in Latin America with major design/build firm by implementing product technology strategy that addressed key value gaps and resulted in dominant designs.

Created and launched PET insulation board business to reach $1M in ratable sales with 45% gross margin in one year from Mexico customers building facilities including WalMart, schools, clinics, and disaster shelters in Haiti and Dominican Republic. Product is produced from 100% recycled PET soda bottles.

NOVA Chemicals – Pittsburgh, PA 1995 – 2009

Plastics and chemical company that produces products for food and electronics packaging, industrial materials, appliances, and consumer goods.

Global Development Director 2004 – 2009

Promoted by President to start up company’s first downstream business venture after proposing redeployment of assets gained from Royal Dutch Shell polymer business acquisition. Executed global commercial development strategy designed to grow business by introducing new products and processes to global markets. Directed R&D in product/process development, design, and construction. Fostered strategic partner and customer relationships. Built, coached, and led business/technology team of 25 direct reports. Managed $4M annual budget.

Global Development Director, continued…

Major Accomplishments:

Developed and launched start-up ventures in Chile, Mexico, and India that became $40M business and a major developer of affordable housing by executing global commercial development strategy.

Added $3M in annual sales and created high-value IP suite by launching Light Weight Concrete Business start-up that reinvented and deployed commodity polymer technology in form of high margin concrete additive.

Created high margin business with $15M annual sales by reconfiguring two acquired Shell Oil EPS polymer plants into vertically integrated building and packaging systems businesses that supply Chile’s entire fish farming, export produce, and building systems markets.

Played key role in forming, executing, and starting up NOVIDESA building products systems JV in Mexico, which is now high margin vertically integrated converted products manufacturing and distribution business with $10M in annual sales.

Led team to launch $10M building products joint venture between India’s largest company, Reliance, and NOVA Chemicals.

Director, North America Expandable Polystyrene Technology Business 1995 – 2004

Spearheaded implementation of product technology strategy to expand, defend, and provide technical services for high margin and commodity businesses. Managed $5.5M annual budget and led team of up to 50 direct reports.

Major Accomplishments:

Drove revenue growth and captured business from key competitors including Shell and BASF, while maximizing customer profitability and expansion by developing, tailoring, and applying value chain optimization process to customers’ converting operations supplying foodservice and consumer products markets.

Grew market share and improved margin by 7% for 150M-pound global commodity polymer business by implementing value chain optimization process in customer and foodservice plants.

Improved productivity and maintained profitability and dominant supply position of 50M-pound California fruit grower business by applying chemical engineering principles to reduce/manage energy and water usage.

Enabled commodity plus service sales by rationalizing and transforming sales force into technical sales force that set industry benchmark.

Saved $1M by leading product rationalization initiative that reduced polymer product offerings from 38 to ~10, while maintaining product integrity and price points in domestic and international markets.

Played key role in company’s successful acquisition of Huntsman Corporation’s U.S. and European styrenics businesses and Dutch Royal Shell’s European polystyrene business. Led asset valuation teams in France and the Netherlands.

Early Career

Principal Applications Engineer, Business Analyst, and Market Specialist with ARCO Chemical Company

Product Development Manager with DIXIE Consumer Products Group, James River Corporation

Product Manager, International Paper Company Specialty Products Group

R&D Manager and Project Engineer with Sweetheart Products Group

Technical Advisor for National Particle Association

Credentials

Johns Hopkins University, Carey School of Business

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance, Marketing, and Industrial Systems

Pennsylvania State University

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Wood Chemistry

Volunteer Service

Co-founder, Nonprofit Joint Venture with Mexico company to build and install $3,500 kits of earthquake and hurricane proof homes for third-world countries.

Habitat for Humanity – Provided conceptual design, structural design, and turnkey build team deploying sustainable Italian composite building systems in detached residential setting for low-income family.

Publications

“High Heat Plystyrenics Performance in Microwave Ovens.” Presented at South Pack Annual Packaging Exposition.

“Effects of Relative Humidity and Shelf-Life on Selected Properties of Polyvinyl Acetate Adhesive Films.” Wood and Fiber Journal.

“Bark as a Medium for Removing Heavy Metals from Strip Mine Drainage.” Presented at FPRS Annual Meeting in Denver, CO.

Patents

U.S. Patent No. 4,261,504: “Heat-sealable ovenable containers.”

U.S. Patent No. 4,387,551: “Heat-sealable ovenable containers and method of manufacture.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,252,866: “Thermoplastic film for a disposable container made of expandable thermoplastic particles.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,294,655: “Coating compositions for thermoplastic resin particles for forming foam containers.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,632,348: “Lightweight concrete compositions containing antimicrobial agents.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,644,548: “Lightweight concrete compositions.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,666,258: “Lightweight concrete compositions and articles containing such.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,699,929: “Lightweight concrete compositions.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,736,740: “Foam containers and articles from coated thermoplastic resin particles and methods for forming.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,744,692: “Lightweight concrete compositions.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,785,711: “Coating composition for thermoplastic resin particles for forming foam containers.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,790,302: “Lightweight concrete compositions and articles containing such.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,892,645: “Coating composition for thermoplastic resin particles for forming foam containers.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,964,272: “Lightweight concrete and articles and compositions containing such.”

U.S. Patent No. 7,972,695: “Coating composition for thermoplastic resin particles.”

U.S. Patent No. 8,029,617: “ Lightweight concrete compositions.”

U.S. Patent No. 8,101,101. “Methods for improving the resistance of fumigant sorption in a produce container and a related produce containers.”

Special Training:

Six Sigma Training From Air Academy

Lean Manufacturing Training required and applied as a supplier to Toyota

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