Microporous™ is a leading global engineered materials company, developing, manufacturing and marketing high-performance polyethylene (“PE”), rubber, and hybrid separators for flooded lead-acid batteries and PE separators for lithium-ion batteries. Separators are a highly-engineered, mission-critical component of lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. The company's separators are used by battery manufacturers for applications such as Starting Lighting and Ignition ("SLI"​) batteries for automobiles and trucks, golf car batteries, forklift batteries, and industrial standby power. The company supplies an extensive customer base located across 23 countries and five continents. Microporous currently operates two plants, one in Piney Flats, TN and one in Feistritz, Austria. The company is headquartered in Piney Flats, Tennessee USA.

An International Business Leader with P&L experience in the specialty chemicals, plastics, packaging, and print industries. I can be contacted at douglasrich15@gmail.com.

A world-leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialized polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide.

InterFlex is a global leader in specialty flexible packaging serving the fresh food, packaged food, confectionary, pet product and industrial product markets. We leverage our manufacturing processes, technical resources and IT platform to deliver value as a recognized leader in printing and coating techniques, shrink film applications, pouch and bag structures, and multi-film laminations.

A Global Master Batch manufacturer - Full manufacturing responsibility as top manufacturing executive for 7 sites in the US, Europe, and Asia with a manufacturing and engineering staff of 350, a multi million dollar operating budget, and a capital budget running 4% of sales. Sites manufacture specialty color and additives for the textile, automotive, building and construction, engineered materials, and packaging industries. Recruited to support the growth plan, implement Lean, and drive a continuous improvement culture. Reported to the President. • Led improvement of manufacturing working capital by 10% and delivered improved service to over 95% during an 18-month period.• Doubled China plant footprint and integrated an acquisition into the facility.• Re-engineered a manufacturing plant servicing the European market, a game changing initiative, projected to deliver a 35% manufacturing cost reduction. • Led a transformational change management effort for an automotive plant using lean methodology designed to deliver a 10% reduction in conversion costs and a sustained 20 point improvement in service levels.

Responsible for 4 manufacturing sites in the US, Europe, and Asia. Implemented Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to drive operational excellence. Sites manufactured PVC products, urethane, and ink. Reported to the GM.• Delivered 15% reduction in conversion costs, an 8% operating income improvement, and a 10% improvement in inventory utilization through LSS activity, Kaizen, upgrading staff, and capital investment in a batch processing manufacturing business.• Restructured a legacy business and delivered an exclusive agreement with a key account generating $3M of operating income.• Re-established best in class safety with an incident rate of 1.0 and improved environmental performance.• Headed the innovation group (R&D) supporting sales growth of 5% per year and delivering expanded margins in a mature market.• Increased the velocity of product development by leaning out the stage gate process, improving project management execution, and partnering with product management.• Upgraded talent and focused on supply chain to improve planning, scheduling, and inventory management.

Full P&L responsibility for $100M portfolio consisting of 3 BUs totaling 400 employees and 5 manufacturing sites. Led Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, R&D, Finance, and Human Resources. Reported to the President & CEO of MacDermid. Supported the sale of business through maximizing value, representing the European BU in negotiations, and transitioning the team to a new owner in 2008.• Increased sales 30% by reorganizing and rebuilding 2 selling organizations providing focus and training on direct sales while improving distribution sales channel.• Delivered over $4.6M in savings by reorganizing manufacturing including site relocation and cost reductions related to labor with 3 unions. Resulted in no work slowdown and improvement of key manufacturing metrics.• Refocused R&D strategy with emphasis on core product expansion. Improved metrics for new product sales ratios, revenue and cash.• Improved operating profit by over 2.4x and increased EBIT 180% in one legacy business unit.

P&L management for $22M BU including sales, marketing, and customer service serving the NA commercial print market. Reported to the President. Reversed sales and operating profit declines delivering 5% sales increase by overhauling distribution channel.

Selected to turn around $80M, 200+ employee, non-union manufacturing site with 2 plants totaling 250,000 sq. ft. supporting 2 global business, packaging and commercial print. Reported to the Group Vice President.• Delivered 18-month turnaround increasing operating profit 20%, reducing inventory 35%, increasing productivity 15%, and improving customer service metrics.• Utilized Six Sigma techniques with minimal capital expenditures and record safety performance.• Implemented SAP and trained staff on efficient usage of system including power users.• Consolidated 1 plant and assisted in building 1 plant: relocated equipment and designed floor layout.

Reporting to the group Vice President, this company was formed (PE sponsored) from the graphics arts group of WR Grace. Significant change management work as this business was transformed to perform in a highly leveraged, private equity ownership environment. This business was acquired by MacDermid in December 1999.

Graphic Arts BU - Managed a 100+ employee (union) manufacturing site supporting $25M in sales to the Commercial, Newspaper, and Textile print markets. Led multiple labor negotiations.

Daramic BU - Lead Acid Battery Separator manufacturing

Daramic BU - Lead Acid Battery Separator manufacturing