Valette will be responsible for leading the company's research and development efforts to find new, sustainable and innovative ways of melting and forming glass.He will lead the execution of the company's current R&D portfolio, while managing the strategic development of the next wave of R&D concepts aimed at securing O-I's position as the cost and innovation leader in the glass packaging industry.
Valette joins O-I from The Dow Chemical Company, where he held various leadership positions over the past 13 years. He holds a master's degree in material sciences and engineering, and a Ph.D. in macromolecular chemistry and composites from the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, France. He has authored or co-authored more than 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals and holds more than 25 granted patents and patent applications. Valette's career at Dow spanned three continents and included global leadership experience. Most recently he led a team of more than 100 employees in the global R&D organization for Dow's epoxy business. He is a member of the industry advisory board Technological Innovations Generating Economic Results at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, Georgia.
"The depth of Ludovic's technical knowledge and expertise, combined with his transformational leadership experience, are the right fit to ignite O-I's significant science and engineering talent," said Giancarlo Currarino, vice president and chief technology officer. "Under his leadership, I am confident that we will make significant advances in R&D that will bring value to O-I and, more importantly, to our customers."
Valette joins O-I as construction of the company's Innovation Center nears completion. Announced in September 2012, the Innovation Center will help advance new concepts and qualify emerging technologies that could revolutionize glass melting and forming. The center is expected to begin pilot operations in the fourth quarter of this year.
About O-I
Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) is the world's largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world's leading food and beverage brands. With revenues of $7.0 billion in 2012, the Company is headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA, and employs approximately 22,500 people at 79 plants in 21 countries. O-I delivers safe, sustainable, pure, iconic, brand-building glass packaging to a growing global marketplace. O-I's Glass Is Life(TM) movement promotes the widespread benefits of glass packaging in key markets around the globe. For more information, visit www.o-i.com or www.glassislife.com.