Executive Leadership Team

Our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members gained significant industry experience prior to joining Michelman. Their leadership enables Michelman to remain at the forefront of evolving industry trends. By leveraging the expertise of the ELT, Michelman can quickly pivot to address the needs of rapidly changing markets. ELT perspectives also provide strategic insights regarding rationalizing our product portfolio while maintaining our purpose of Innovating a Sustainable Future.

Our ELT members are listed below: 

 

Richard I. Michelman, Ph.D.

Dr. Richard (Rick) I. Michelman, President & CEO, has been with Michelman for 27 years, acquiring broad operation and market knowledge. His roles have spanned product development, technology management, enterprise software implementation, new business development, regional leadership, and business segment leadership. Before joining Michelman, Rick worked at Raychem (now Tyco). Rick obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley and his A.B. from Cornell University. With a strong focus on honing his leadership skills, Rick has participated in ongoing leadership training through the University of Chicago’s Executive Institute and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cincinnati program. Rick’s has lent his Executive Leadership skills to multiple community and industry organizations including the National Regional Offices Committee of the AJC, the Board of Trustees for the Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati, JVS’s Career Network, the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) and The CROWN, Cincinnati’s 34-mile urban trail loop, a multi-use paved trail that connects the city’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems. Rick is a member of the Tugboat Institute, which brings inspiration, new ideas, and proven best practices about business, family, and life for privately held company CEOs.

Andrew J. Michelman

Andrew Michelman, Executive Vice President and a member of Michelman’s Board of Directors, oversees the company’s commercial operations in the Americas and Asia, and manages its company’s Fibers & Composites and Coatings market segments. He joined the company in 2015 as its Vice President, Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), after accumulating 20 years of global M&A experience. Before coming to Michelman, Andrew served as a principal of a private equity investment group located in Birmingham and London, England. In addition, he has worked in investment banking with Citigroup in New York and London and as a strategy and corporate development consultant with European-based manufacturer Valliant Group. Andrew currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and two children.

Wilma Beaty

Wilma Beaty is Michelman's Chief Human Resources Officer, leading people engagement, organizational design, and culture development. She oversees the company's global HR teams and ensures Michelman's values are reflected in its operations. With 25+ years of experience in HR and legal leadership positions, she brings a unique blend of expertise to her role. As both HR leader and General Counsel, Wilma's background gives her a comprehensive perspective on organizational strategy. Her approach to HR has been shaped by her labor and employment law experience, empowering her to drive cultural and compliance initiatives that support business growth. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and an active member of the New York and Georgia bar associations, Wilma is passionate about sustainability and community service. Based in Cincinnati, Wilma is actively engaged in charitable work focused on poverty alleviation and economic stability.

Paul Griffith

Paul Griffith is Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, and also oversees commercial operations in EMEA. He leads our global Printing & Packaging and Seed Coatings platforms. Joining Michelman in 2016 with a 30-year career in the chemical industry, Paul's experience includes strategy, P&L management, operations, innovation, and process excellence and effectiveness. He held senior and executive leadership positions at The Dow Chemical Company, ExxonMobil, and Jindal Films, including expatriate assignments in Europe, Asia, and the United States. After earning his Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Brighton, Sussex (UK), he received a post-graduate diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK. Paul also received an MBA in Business Administration and General Management from Henley Business School, Oxfordshire (UK). He currently lives in Luxembourg with his wife and children.

Jason Wise

Jason Wise, Chief Financial & Risk Officer, is responsible for Michelman’s Finance, Accounting, Legal, Regulatory, and Environmental Health & Safety functions. He joined Michelman in 2012 as its Corporate Controller and was promoted to Vice President of Finance in January of 2017. After being appointed to Chief Financial Officer in 2019 he continued improving the organization’s financial controls, expanding reporting capabilities, and modernizing its tax, treasury, and risk management programs. Prior to joining Michelman, Jason held senior-level managerial and auditing positions for a variety of companies such as Baker Concrete Construction, Deloitte, Toyota Boshoku America, and Sun Chemical. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. Jason lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Carol, and children, Stella and Lucas.

Portia Yarborough, Ph.D.

Dr. Portia Yarborough, Chief Science & Sustainability Officer (CSSO), is driving sustainability initiatives throughout Michelman. Through a combination of strategic guidance and specific initiatives, Portia is heightening sustainability awareness and encouraging associates to make operational decisions through a lens of sustainability. With over two decades of experience creating value at DuPont, Portia has expertise in delivering innovative solutions using high-performance engineered materials, elastomers, composites, and sealing technologies across multiple industries. Portia is a strategic change champion with a strong focus on differentiated risk management, sustainability, and innovating safer by design. Portia earned her Ph.D. & M.S. in Polymer Chemistry from Cornell University. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Chemistry from Wake Forest University.