Nova Chemicals Corp. announced late yesterday the appointment of Danny Dweik as interim CEO, effective Oct. 1, 2022. Currently a Nova Chemicals board member, Dweik is Head of Industrials at Mubadala Investment Co., the $284-billion Abu Dhabi-based investor.

Dweik succeeds Luis Sierra, who is stepping down as CEO and will serve as a senior advisor to the company, assisting with the transition, Calgary-based Nova said in the news release. A Canadian national, Dweik sits on the boards of a number of North American industrial and business services companies. He was formerly CFO and CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, where he led the company’s post-merger integration, revenue growth, and sustainability program, establishing the business as the world’s largest premium aluminum producer.

Dweik also heads Mubadala’s Impact Investing program, which focuses on addressing climate change and growing diversity, inclusion, and social empowerment in all of its business partnerships. 

"Danny’s leadership and impeccable track record of improving the operational performance and sustainability standards of complex industrial companies will enable Nova to accelerate the implementation of its decarbonization and circular economy strategy,” said Ahmed Yahia, Chairman of Nova Chemicals. “Danny’s commitment to empowering the greatest asset of every company — its people — will allow Nova to further accelerate its innovation roadmap to best support our customers.”  

In making the announcement, the Nova Chemicals board expressed its gratitude to outgoing CEO Sierra for maintaining a steady course for the company in the aftermath of the global pandemic and laying the foundations for a transition to a sustainable business model.