January 31, 2007
CEO Lecture
George Cornelius
President and Chief Executive Officer, Arkema Inc.
About George Cornelius
George Cornelius is president and CEO of Arkema Inc. (formerly Atofina Chemicals, Inc.). Prior to this position Mr. Cornelius was vice president, general counsel responsible for directing the legal affairs of the Company, including litigation, environmental law, patent issues, and risk management. He was named president and CEO in January 2005.
Mr. Cornelius joined Arkema Inc. in 1996 and served as general counsel. Prior to that he was a partner with the firm Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, located in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds a B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University (with highest distinction) and a J.D. degree from Dickinson School of Law (Pennsylvania State University). Mr. Cornelius also attended a seminary program between 1992 and 2002 at Presbyterian, Church of the Brethren and American Baptist seminaries.
About Arkema
Arkema was spun off from the French oil and gas company Total S.A. in May 2006. Arkema has annual worldwide revenue of $7 billion, with North American sales of about $1.75 billion. It has 2700 employees in North America, with 1000 in the Philadelphia Region. Its core businesses are Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products. Its wide array of brands includes Plexiglas.