Background
Seifi Ghasemi became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in July 2014. In this role, he is focused on setting and executing the strategy and policies of the Company, developing leadership and meeting shareholder commitments.
- Prior to joining Air Products, from 2001 to 2014, Mr. Ghasemi served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., a global leader in lithium and advanced materials.
- From 1997 to 2001, he held leadership roles at GKN, a global industrial company, including positions as director of the Main Board of GKN, plc and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GKN Sinter Metals, Inc. and Hoeganes Corporation.
- Earlier in his career, Mr. Ghasemi spent nearly 20 years with The BOC Group in various positions including director of the Main Board of BOC Group, plc, President of BOC Gases Americas and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BOC Process Plants, Ltd. and Cryostar. He also served as non-executive Chairman of Versum Materials, Inc. from its spin-off from the Company in October 2016 until its acquisition by Merck KGaA for approximately € 5.8 billion in October 2019.
- Mr. Ghasemi is a member of The Business Council, an association of the chief executive officers of the world’s most important business enterprises. In 2020, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. In 2019 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the U.S.-China Business Council. Mr. Ghasemi also was the recipient of the 2017 biennial International Palladium Medal from the Société de Chimie Industrielle for his distinguished contributions to the chemical industry.
- Mr. Ghasemi earned his undergraduate degree from Abadan Institute of Technology and holds an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. He also was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Lafayette College in 2017 and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2018.
Qualifications, Attributes, and Key Skills
Mr. Ghasemi brings to the Board strong leadership and extensive management and operating experience, including deep experience in the industrial gases and specialty chemicals industries, and a robust understanding of key end markets for the Company.
- His prior executive leadership of an international chemical company also provides substantial experience in governance and portfolio management, strategic planning, talent management and international operations.
- He provides the Board with candid insights into the Company’s industry, operations, management team and strategic opportunities and threats.
Accounting/Financial Reporting
Corporate Governance
Diverse Director
Executive Leadership
Finance & Capital Management
Government Relations
Human Capital Management
Industry/Operations
International Experience
Investor Relations
Large Industrial Projects
Logistics Experience
Mergers & Acquisitions
Oil & Gas Experience
Technology
Advocacy
Support for Seifi from across our community*
*Permission to use quotations neither sought nor obtained