Univar Solutions Inc., a global chemical and ingredient distributor and provider of value-added services, today announced Stephen D. Newlin, the Company’s current Executive Chairman will retire as an employee of the Company and become Chairman, effective December 31, 2019. Mr. Newlin will serve as Non-Executive Chairman during a transition where he is expected to be succeeded by Independent Lead Director, Christopher D. Pappas, as of the 2020 annual shareholder meeting. This planned transition marks the next step in the ongoing evolution of the Company’s governance practices. Mr. Newlin will remain on the Board and stand for election as a director at the May 2020 annual meeting to help guide Univar Solutions continuing transformation.
“I am proud to have served as Univar’s Executive Chairman during this pivotal period in our Company’s history as we completed the merger with Nexeo Solutions and created Univar Solutions – a global powerhouse in our industry. I am honored to be asked by our Board to remain a director following this transition and I look forward to continuing my service as a Board member,” said Newlin. “Since David Jukes’ appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2018, the Board and I have seen his leadership grow and move Univar Solutions closer to becoming a high-performance, innovative, growth company that consistently delivers unsurpassed value for all of our stakeholders. I’m also pleased we have someone of Chris’s caliber to serve as our Independent Chairman of the Board. The Board and I believe in this governance best practice and we continue to improve our governance following our emergence as a public company in 2015.”
After his election to the Board in 2014, Mr. Newlin served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 2016 to 2018 and thereafter as Executive Chairman. During his time at Univar, Mr. Newlin led the development of a new strategy and leadership team to transform the Company into a growth-driven enterprise, which included leading the process to find and develop a successor. He established the three strategic priorities of Commercial Greatness, Operational Excellence and One Univar, which is now a benchmark for instituting a growth culture where discipline and rigor lead to success. Under his direction, Univar reversed declines and returned to consistent profitable growth for the first time since 2014.
“I want to thank Steve for his invaluable leadership on the board as Executive Chairman and I am looking forward to his continued support as we continue to redefine distribution and become the most valued chemical and ingredient distributor on the planet,” said Jukes.
“I look forward to working with Steve in what will be yet another successful transition as I prepare to serve as Chairman,” said Pappas. “I’m excited to continue my work with Steve and David to streamline, innovate and grow the Company as we execute Univar Solutions strategic plan to unlock shareholder value through improved margins, increased share, and market growth.”
Source: Univar Solutions
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