Sandra Breene new President of Personal Care and Actives

Croda today officially announced that Kevin Gallagher, President Personal Care and Actives, will retire after a long standing career of almost 4 decades with the company. His retirement is effective as of January 1, 2016. Sandra Breene, currently President Health Care and Crop Care, will assume the role of President Personal Care and Actives as of January 1, 2016.

Gallagher started as an applications chemist in 1978, and held positions in R&D, QA, sales, and marketing before moving into general management in 1989. He has been President - Croda North America from 1999 to present, and has served on the Executive Committee of Croda International Plc. from 2007. Having chaired Croda’s Personal Care Steering Group from its inception in 2004, he became the first President of Croda’s Global Personal Care and Actives business, when the group structure was changed in 2014.

“I am very proud of my 37 year career with Croda, and at having been an important part of the global leadership team that created “the most successful personal care ingredients business”. said Gallagher.

He is co-inventor on seven patents held by Croda that all resulted in successful commercial products, and has been a leader in fostering innovation at Croda.

Breene joined the Croda Europe office in 1990 as a Research and Development Chemist, responsible for a variety of areas, including the commissioning of a new production unit at its Rawcliffe Bridge manufacturing plant. In 1993 she began her commercial career in sales for Croda’s Personal Care and Health Care markets, followed by a promotion to European Sales Manager.

Breene has held a variety of management roles in Croda offices around the world and in various market sectors in recent years, expanding her experience and knowledge base. She moved to Singapore in 2001 where she was Sales and Marketing Director for 5 years, responsible for developing business in all market sectors. In 2006 she returned to the UK as Sales and Marketing Director for the Health Care business becoming next the VP Sales

and Marketing, Personal Care, for Croda Europe. In the roles, Breene gained experience in strategic leadership and management of a large team of personnel in Sales, Marketing and Technical functions. In addition, she gained exposure to new cultures and methods of working.

In 2012, Breene was appointed onto the Executive Committee of Croda International as President, Consumer Care Europe. During the last ten years she has held business leadership positions in Croda’s Personal Care, Life Sciences (Crop and Health Care) and Performance Technology divisions, and following a global restructure in 2014 was named Sector President Crop and Health Care, responsible for the global and regional business for the two market sectors.

Breene has a degree in Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry and Toxicology from Hull University. She obtained management qualifications with the Open University and an MBA through the University of Leeds in 2000.

“Sandra Breene’s experiences across Croda’s industries and her leadership style qualify her to step into this role. She is well-respected across the industry and exemplifies the company's core values." said Gallagher.

“It is an honour to be chosen to succeed Kevin in this position. He leaves a legacy of innovation within Croda’s Personal Care business and the industry itself. I look forward to the opportunity of delivering and developing our strategy as the leader in sustainable innovation for the Personal Care market, further building on the excellent positioning that Kevin has nurtured for Croda.” said Breene.