Birla Carbon restructures amid shifting market demand

Marietta, Georgia – Birla Carbon is restructuring its organisation into three business units as it looks to respond to changing market conditions and sharpen its focus on customers.

The new structure will centre on Asia, Americas & EMEA, and ‘speciality materials,’ said the Indian carbon black supplier 25 May.

Under the new structure, Amit Kumar, currently chief manufacturing officer for Asia, will become president, Asia, with responsibility for the company’s rubber business in the region.

John Davidson, currently chief sales & marketing officer, has been named president, Americas & EMEA, also overseeing the rubber business in those regions.

Meanwhile, Shashank Awasthi, currently head of sales for Asia and business head for China, will become president, speciality materials.

In the role, Awasthi will oversee Birla Carbon’s global specialty materials business, including specialty carbon blacks and Nanocyl multi-wall carbon nanotubes serving plastics, coatings, energy systems and other non-rubber applications.

The company has also appointed Zachary Combs, currently director of technology for energy systems, as head of global technology.

Combs will be responsible for process and product development across the business.

Alongside the restructuring, Birla Carbon said it will continue reviewing its manufacturing footprint in line with market conditions.

The company said it plans to leverage “major expansions in Asia” while demand in the Americas and Europe has weakened.

“The rapid pace of change today requires a nimble organisation, empowered to make quick decisions and act,” said John Loudermilk, president and CEO of Birla Carbon.

“These changes will enable Birla Carbon to further strengthen partnerships, drive innovation, and create value for our customers,” he added.