2018 AGILE Award Keynote Address

The 2018 AIChE Spring Meeting and 14th GCPS AGILE Keynote Address will be presented by AGILE award recipient Mark Vergnano, President and CEO, The Chemours Company. 

Mark Vergnano was named the first CEO of The Chemours Company prior to its spinoff from DuPont in July 2015. He brought with him three decades of experience in the chemical industry as well as an enviable legacy of thoughtful and results-driven leadership. 

Under Mark’s leadership and with an ambitious five-point transformation plan as its blueprint, the company navigated financial uncertainties and addressed the challenges associated with building a new company from the old—challenges that included adopting policies more appropriate for a smaller company and creating a distinctive corporate culture, rooted in entrepreneurship. This transformation—this re-invention—complete, the CEO is now leading a company poised for future profitable growth.

Mark is widely known throughout Chemours as an accessible and collaborative leader. He’s sought to build a culture in which employees at all levels feel free to contribute ideas for improving the company and upholding its corporate values. Vergnano has a passion for safety, one of those values. As an expression of this commitment, he has served on the board of the U.S. National Safety Council (NSC) for seven years, and, in 2017, was welcomed as chair of the NSC Board of Directors.   

Vergnano began his career at DuPont in 1980 as a process engineer in its fibers business.  He went on to serve the company in various leadership capacities and geographic locales over the next 35 years with distinction, culminating in his appointment as executive vice president in October 2009.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Vergnano received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and master's degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is a member of the University of Connecticut School of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Engineers and Hall of Fame.   

Mark serves on the board of directors for the American Chemistry Council and on the executive committee of the Society of Chemical Industry. He also serves on the advisory board for the University of Connecticut School of Engineering and is a member of the board of directors of Johnson Controls International.

Schedule

Factors in Selecting AGILE Honoree

1. Overall sustained excellent industry leadership in businesses that employ chemical engineers

2. Recognized for efforts in innovation and creating strategies that ensure success

3. Value of the keynote to the meeting attendees and the members of the Institute