Angel Fernandez Director, Chlor-Alkali Research EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics. Angel joined the Chemical Market Analytics team through the legacy IHS Markit Base chemicals team in 2021. During his time with the company, he has held various roles in the Inorganics value chain, including potassium hydroxide research and analysis and Global Service Leader for bleaching chemicals. Angel leads the EMEA chlor-alkali team and provides market coverage for European caustic soda in the Global Chlor-alkali Report and Chlor-alkali World Analysis. He works closely with clients in all regions to provide support and guidance on chlor-alkali chemicals. Angel has over 20 years of experience in trading, shipping, market research and analysis of the chemical industry. He started his career at BP Chemicals, followed by five years at Sojitz UK, where he was involved in the trading and shipping of aromatics, methanol and solvents. Before joining the IHS Markit Base Chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), he spent 10 years researching and analyzing the oxo alcohols, plasticizers, and chlor-alkali markets at a market data provider. Angel holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and International Relations. He is based out of the London office.

Damián Gumpel Strategic Advisor & Global Chemical Industry Executive DG Insights LLC

Damian Gumpel is a business executive with over 15 years of experience leading global chemical enterprises. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to companies and C-suite leaders to drive value creation through operational transformation and portfolio optimization. Throughout his career, Damian has managed $2B to $4B P&Ls across sectors including chlor-alkali, chlorine derivatives, epoxy resins and systems, and titanium dioxide. He has experience in corporate and business strategy development & execution, organizational restructuring, and commercial turnarounds. Damian holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Igor van der Hel Vice President Caustic Soda & Derivatives Business Vynova Group

Igor van der Hel leads the Caustic Soda & Derivatives business activities of Vynova, a leading European chlor-alkali and PVC company. Prior to joining Vynova, he held several leadership positions across the chemical and industrial sectors. He started his career in operational and technical roles at various chlor-alkali production sites. As his career progressed, Igor transitioned into commercial and strategic functions, taking on responsibilities in business development, key account management, and regional market expansion. Later on, Igor advanced into broader business management responsibilities, overseeing product portfolios, supply chain integration, and margin optimization across international markets. In his current role at Vynova, he oversees the full caustic soda and derivatives value chain. Igor holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands).

Stefan Karrenbrock Senior Director Business Development and Sales CA thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA

Stefan completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen and began his career at Uhde in 1995 as a Process Engineer. He progressed through various roles in Process and Sales, including Sales activities in Mexico from 2013 to 2017. After joining thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers in September 2017, Stefan became Head of Sales Chlor-Alkali in October 2020 and, since October 2023, he has managed the Global Sales activities in the Chlor-Alkali sector. Leveraging his extensive background, Stefan drives strategic Business Development and Sales for Chlor-Alkali, focusing on generating regional order intake, maintaining market leadership, and overseeing proposal and contract activities. Since October 2024 he holds the position of Senior Director Business Development and Sales Chlor-Alkali for thyssenkrupp nucera. He is married and has three children.

Eddie Kok Executive Director, Global Vinyls Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director of Global Vinyls Service Lead at Chemical Market Analytics Eddie Kok is the Executive Director and Global Service Leader for Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) Global Vinyls Market Advisory Service. During his time with the company, he has held various roles within the Inorganics value chain, including serving as Asia Lead for chlor-alkali and vinyls market coverage. With over 20 years of experience in the chemicals sector, Eddie is a crucial resource within the business for understanding and providing insight into the chlor-alkali and vinyl markets. Eddie currently focuses on vinyl markets, directing a team of research colleagues worldwide to monitor and understand market developments across the vinyl value chain and to provide CMA clients with insights and critical analytics that facilitate decision-making. Eddie also researches and analyzes Asian KOH markets and works closely with his global Chlor-alkali colleagues to provide an integrated view of the chlor-alkali and vinyls businesses. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Eddie held multiple roles with CCM, a chlor-alkali producer based in Malaysia. His responsibilities at CMM included product portfolio management, production planning and regional sales. Mr. Kok holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Campbell University, North Carolina, United States. He is currently based out of the Singapore office.

Nick Kovics Vice President, Global Chemical Research Lead & Inorganic Chemicals Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Kovics is the Vice President of the Global Inorganics team at Chemical Market Analytics. Nick Kovics serves in dual leadership roles at Chemical Market Analytics, where he is Vice President and Head of Chemical Research as well as the Inorganic Chemicals Team Lead. He brings over 25 years of global experience in the chemical industry to the organization. Nick was promoted to Head of Chemical Research in 2025 and now oversees the Plastics & Polymers, Aromatics & Fibers, Olefins, Inorganic Chemicals, and Syngas value chains. Prior to this role, he held several leadership positions within Chemical Market Analytics’ Inorganics practice, including responsibility for the Chlor-alkali, Bleaching Chemicals, and Battery Materials advisory services. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Nick held various technical, commercial, and financial roles across the broader chemical and energy sectors. He began his career as a Process engineer in the chlor-alkali sector at Canadian Occidental, then moved into the energy industry with Schlumberger Canada as a field engineer in cementing and hydraulic fracturing Services. He later transitioned into the emerging hydrogen fuel cell sector, spending a decade in technical, commercial, and corporate finance roles. Nick subsequently returned to the Electrochemical industry with Canexus (now Chemtrade Logistics), where he held commercial leadership positions in chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate marketing. Originally from Canada, Nick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is both a Canadian Professional Engineer and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. Nick has lived in Houston, Texas, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2017.

Brian Newsome Vice President, Global Chlor-alkali Advisory Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Brian Newsome is the Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali advisory service at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, Brian served in several roles at Westlake Corporation, including as Director of Strategy, Business Manager for Chlorine and Chlorine Derivatives, and Market Manager for Calcium Hypochlorite. He has also worked in commercial and technical roles at Kureha Corporation (Japan), Motorola Semiconductor, and ExxonMobil LNG. Brian has over 17 years of chemical industry experience, including over 13 years of global chlor-alkali and vinyl's industries experience in marketing, sales and business line management roles. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Karl-Martin Schellerer Senior Vice President Europe & Asia Chlorovinyls Westlake Germany GmbH & Co. KG

Dr. Karl-Martin Schellerer is the Senior Vice President Europe & Asia Chlorovinyls within Westlake. In this role he serves as Managing Director for Westlake Vinnolit and in various European and Asian entities as Director or Board Member. From November 2015 to July 2017, Dr. Schellerer held the position of Vice President and General Manager Vinnolit. Dr. Schellerer joined Westlake from Dr. Wieselhuber & Partner Consultants GmbH in Munich where he led the competence center for process and plastics industry. Previously, he served in various commercial and corporate managerial roles for Vinnolit since 1997. Dr. Schellerer holds a Master of Business Administration from the Universities of Augsburg & Pittsburgh (USA) and a doctorate in chemistry (PhD) from the University of Regensburg. He is also serving in several honorary posts including: Chairman of the ECVM Board,  Chairman of the VinylPlus Board, Member of the PlasticsEurope Steering Board, Member of the VBCI Economic Policy Committee (Bavarian Chemical Industry Association) and Member of vbw District Group Board (Bavarian Industry Association).

Roberto Vagheggi General Manager, Esseco Industrial S.p.A. CEO, Altair Chemical s.r.l.

Born in 1966, Roberto Vagheggi holds a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Florence. After gaining both national and international experience with major chemical companies, in 2009 he was entrusted with the task of rescuing Altair Chimica in Saline di Volterra. He was reconfirmed as CEO even after the acquisition by Esseco, becoming the first external manager in the history of the family-owned group. He later acquired and revitalized the Pieve Vergonte site in Piedmont, leading to the creation of what is now Altair Chemical. Since December 2021, he has been General Manager of Esseco Industrial, the industrial holding of Esseco Group, ranked among the top 100 performing companies in Italy.