Live at ANTEC® - SPE Announces Opening Keynote Speakers Jim Fitterling, CEO, Dow and Tom Salmon, CEO, Berry Global

Contact: Chris Barry, cbarry@4spe.org, +1 203.740.5414

DANBURY, CT—March 9, 2020: SPE is pleased to announce that Thomas (Tom) Salmon, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Chairman of the Board, Berry Global Group and Jim Fitterling, Chief Executive Officer, Dow, will be the opening keynote speakers at ANTEC® 2020, the largest, most respected and well-known technical conference in the plastics industry.

“We are excited to have these two dynamic industry executives speaking at ANTEC® this year,” said Patrick Farrey, SPE’s CEO. “Hearing from the CEOs of both a global materials supplier and a global converter will be of great interest to our attendees – especially given the shared commitment of both as founding members of the Alliance to End Plastics Waste. Each will present their perspective on the plastics industry, then answer questions in a moderated Q&A session.”

About the Keynote Speakers

Jim Fitterling was named chief executive officer-elect of Dow in March 2018, prior to becoming CEO in July 2018. Before that, he served as Dow’s president and chief operating officer. From September 2017 through March 2019, Mr. Fitterling also served as chief operating officer for the Materials Science Division of DowDuPont, an $86 billion holding company comprised of The Dow Chemical Company and DuPont, created with the intent to form independent, publicly traded companies in materials science, agriculture and specialty products sectors. During his 36-year career at Dow, Fitterling has held a wide range of leadership positions in many of the company’s business units, in corporate development and in business operations. In addition, he served as the business lead in Dow’s successful launch of its next-generation sustainability goals. At his direction, in January 2019, Dow became a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, an initiative to accelerate efforts to drive innovation, provide much-needed resources, and take decisive action to put an end to plastic waste in the environment. Mr. Fitterling joined Dow in 1984, two weeks after earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri - Columbia.

Thomas Salmon was named Chief Executive Officer of Berry Global Group, Inc. and appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors in February 2017. Mr. Salmon most recently served as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. From November 2015 until October 2016, Mr. Salmon was President of Berry’s Consumer Packaging Division. He previously served as president of Berry’s Rigid Closed Top Division since November 2014 and president of Berry’s Engineered Materials Division from 2003 until November 2014. Mr. Salmon was general manager for Honeywell Plastics for the two years prior thereto. He was the global sales director for Allied Signal’s Engineering Plastics and Films business from 1999 to 2001. Prior to joining Honeywell/ Allied Signal, Mr. Salmon held several positions at GE Plastics and GE Lighting, divisions within General Electric. Mr. Salmon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Bonaventure University in Western New York.

More about ANTEC®2020

ANTEC®2020 is taking place March 29-April 2 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit www.4spe.org/ANTEC. 

###
SPE-Inspiring Plastics Professionals is 84 countries and 22,500+ members strong, SPE unites plastics professionals worldwide–helping them succeed and strengthening their skills through networking, events, training, and knowledge sharing. No matter where you work in the plastics industry value chain-whether you’re a scientist, engineer, technical personnel or a senior executive-nor what your background is, education, gender, culture or age-SPE is here to serve you. Web: www.4spe.org Phone: +1.203.740.5400.