Graham Fox, regional VP Middle East-Africa at Dow Chemical (Midland, MI), has been named president and CEO of Equipolymers BV, a 50:50 joint venture with Petrochemical Industries Co (Kuwait City, Kuwait) producing PET and PET precursor material purified terephthalic acid (PTA). Fox replaces Flavio Terruzzi, who has taken on another role at Dow. Equipolymers (Zürich, Switzerland) has production plants in Ottana, Italy and Schkopau, Germany.

PolyOne (Cleveland, OH) has named Dan Kickel to the posts of VP and general manager of its polymer coatings-systems business. Kickel was previously PolyOne''s VP of key account management. He replaces François Coté who is now VP and general manager of the company''s specialty resins business.

Named VP molding at polyolefin producer Borealis (Kongens Lyngby, Denmark) is Gilles Rochas. He has worked for Borealis for the last 14 years and is responsible in his new position for polyolefins supplies for injection, rotational, and blowmolding processes.

Silicones producer Wacker (Munich, Germany) has appointed Thomas Strüngmann and Ernst-Ludwig Winnacher to the company''s supervisory board. They replace Dirk Oldenburg and Robert Koehler.

David S. Dettore, 63, owner of Premier Mold in Chino, CA, died on Dec. 17. He was a long-time member of the Southern California moldmaking community and former partner in Demoldco of Anaheim. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at the Western Hills Golf Course in Chino Hills, CA.

After 10 years in the position, Deborah Hamlin has stepped down as the executive director of the International Assn. of Plastics Distributors (IAPD; Leawood, KS). The IAPD has formed a search committee for a new executive director and hopes to one in place in time for its 50th annual convention (Vancouver, BC; Sept. 13-16, 2006).

Alan Girard has been promoted from manager of engineering and quality assurance to national and eastern sales manager for distinct product lines at rotational molder Meese Orbitron Dunne Co. (Saddle Brook, NJ). As national sales manager, Girard will oversee the company''s swimming pool products division. In his eastern sales manager role, he will guide the custom molding and decorative pedestal lines.