Teknor Apex promotes Stef Hordijk and Ger Vroomen to top TPE market manager positions in europe
Oldbury, West Midlands/UK (TeknorApex) – Teknor Apex Company has promoted two people with broad experience in sales of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) to manage European marketing for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division, it was announced today by Simon Hubbard, managing director of the company’s European operations.
Both will work closely with Teknor Apex counterparts in the Americas and Asia to provide worldwide support for multinational users of TPEs. They are based in Geleen, Netherlands.
Stef Hordijk, Senior Market Manager for Non-Automotive TPEs, Europe
Mr. Hordijk will be responsible for construction, consumer, industrial, medical, packaging, and wire and cable markets for Sarlink®, Medalist®, Monprene®, Elexar®, and other TPE brands. He will also supervise the company’s network of distributors in Europe. “Stef has a proven track record in sales development, distribution management, and service to customers in the markets for which he will now be responsible,” said Mr. Hubbard. “He has sales experience in countries across Europe and in 2009 received the Sarlink sales award for bringing in the most new business.” Since entering the plastics industry in 2005 as a global marketing coordinator for DSM Elastomers, Stef Hordijk has worked exclusively with TPEs. In his last two years with DSM, he specialized in sales of Sarlink thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) elastomers. Since the acquisition of the Sarlink business by Teknor Apex in late 2010, he has carried out sales and marketing responsibilities for Teknor Apex TPEs. Hordijk holds a Master of Science degree in business economics from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In addition to his native Dutch, he speaks English, German, and Spanish.
Ger Vroomen, Senior Automotive Market Manager for TPEs, Europe
Mr. Vroomen will be responsible for the Euopean automotive market for all Teknor Apex TPE and will global oversight for sealing systems, a major application for Sarlink TPVs. “Ger brings more than thirty years of plastics industry experience,” said Mr. Hubbard. “His expertise includes both technology and business development, and he has acquired an understanding of the needs of automotive manufacturers as a result of his extensive work with Sarlink TPVs, whose major market is automotive.” Ger Vroomen joined DSM Plastics in 1980 and for six years held technical positions involving polyolefin and styrenic resins. In 1986 he joined DSM Elastomers, where he specialized in automotive application development, working with plastics processors and OEMs. In 2003 he was made automotive business development manager for DSM’s Sarlink TPV business. In 2008 he became global business development and senior account manager, retaining the position after Teknor Apex’s acquisition of the Sarlink business in late 2010. Vroomen holds engineering degrees in chemistry and in rubber and plastics technology. Besides his native Dutch, he speaks English and German.