PolyOne names Stephen Duckworth Business Development Director International

PolyOne Corporation announced today the appointment of Stephen John Duckworth to the post of Business Development Director, International for the Plastic Compounds and Colors Group.

Duckworth, 42, is at present European Marketing and Technology Director for the engineered materials business and is based at one of the company’s compounding plants in Germany where he will remain for the present time. He will report to Bernard Baert, Vice President, International Operations.

Duckworth’s main role will be to help set up, support and develop the various business units’ strategic plans for growth. He will also assist in identifying targets for acquisition in line with these strategies liaising with the Business Development team in the United States. In his new role, Stephen will maintain overall responsibility for marketing.

Stephen Duckworth holds a degree in Applied Chemistry from the University of Salford, Manchester UK. He has 20 years experience in the plastics industry covering product development, product management and sales and marketing.

Starting his career with specialty polymer products producer Raychem, Stephen was involved with product development for the wire and cable and electronics industries. During this time he became co-inventor named on several patents. He was later appointed product manager for heat-shrinkable tubing for use particularly in the commercial electronics and military markets. Subsequently he joined leading ETP producer GE Plastics working in market and application development roles within telecommunications, audio-visual and electrical and electronics markets. Other positions included UK Sales Director for semi-finished products producer DSM-EPP and General Manager of a distribution company.

Duckworth joined M.A. Hanna Company in 1997 as Director, Engineering Polymers for the company’s UK operation. On September 1, 2001, the M.A. Hanna Company and The Geon Company consolidated to form PolyOne Corporation. He was appointed European Marketing and Technology Director at the end of 1998.

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PolyOne Corporation is an international polymer services company with customer-focused operations in thermoplastic and elastomer compounds, specialty vinyl resins, specialty polymer formulations and inks, engineered films, color and additive systems, rubber compounding and thermoplastic resin distribution. PolyOne was formed from the consolidation of the former M.A. Hanna Company and The Geon Company.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, PolyOne has more than 9,000 employees at 80 manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, and joint ventures in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company’s 2000

pro forma revenues exceeded $3 billion. Information on the Company’s products and services can be found at www.polyone.com.