Our Leadership

Michael J. Simmons serves as the President of Ketjen Corporation.

Simmons brings more than 30 years of experience to Ketjen having served at public and private companies as an operating executive and a director/advisor with expertise in strategic planning, operational excellence, and team development. 

Simmons began his career at GE, and since then has held executive roles throughout the U.S. and Europe in energy, finance, and real estate. 

Prior to joining Ketjen, Simmons was a senior partner at Vantage Consulting, a business advisory service specializing in strategy, execution, and leadership where he advised clients in the energy, financial, and medical industries. 

Simmons is a graduate of California State University Fullerton and earned a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Henri Tausch is Chief Commercial Officer for Ketjen. In this role, Tausch is responsible for advancing the company’s commercial strategy and fostering key partnerships to accelerate Ketjen’s global growth trajectory. 

Tausch is a proven business executive with extensive global experience across multiple industrial markets. Known for his adeptness in decision-making and approachable leadership style, he has a successful track record of developing and growing businesses while optimizing profitability.

Prior to joining Ketjen, Tausch was interim General Manager at Hexion for Latin America, where he oversaw transformational activities that led to the organization’s commercial success. Tausch began his career at Honeywell, and since then has held executive roles in energy and industrial global businesses throughout the U.S. and Europe. 

Tausch holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University in Eindhoven, the Netherlands and has served in various executive board positions in several international markets. 

Carr is Chief Operating Officer for Ketjen Corporation. In this role, Carr oversees the company’s manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, process technology, and engineering organizations.

Carr began his career with Ketjen in 2005 when he joined its parent company, Albemarle, as a Process Development Engineer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During the next couple of decades, Carr served in a number of roles with increasing responsibility including Process Design Program Supervisor, Director of Bayport Technology Resources and Director of FCC Technology. Most recently, he served as Senior Director, Process Technology, a role in which he managed a global organization and portfolio and was responsible for championing new process development, asset portfolio management, and new product commercialization.

Carr received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Leliveld joined the Catalysts business in 1997. In 2020, he was appointed Vice President of Research and Technology, as well as Managing Director for the Dutch Catalysts entities in the Netherlands. In 2023, he became Chief Technology Officer for Ketjen Corporation.

Prior to this role, Leliveld served in several capacities in the CFT Business group including business management, content marketing and alliances management. Leliveld has begun his career in Research & Development. Leliveld earned a PhD degree in Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis from the University of Utrecht.

John Barichivich serves as Ketjen’s interim Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Barichivich is responsible for Ketjen’s global financial operations, ensuring the company’s financial health and strategic direction.

Barichivich brings a wealth of experience to Ketjen, including strategic financial planning and analysis, corporate accounting, and change leadership. Prior to joining Ketjen, he served as Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer at Albemarle. Also during his 17-year career at Albemarle, Barichivich held several financial leadership roles including Vice President of Finance – Catalysts GBU, Vice President of Finance – Bromine Specialties GBU, and Director of Finance, Finance Shared Services.

Barichivich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Master of Business Administration degree from Louisiana State University.

Radtke is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Ketjen Corporation. In this role, she is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s comprehensive people strategy and its global HR programs.

Radtke brings more than 20 years of broad-based business leadership experience across all aspects of the HR function, including leading organizations through change. She has proven experience and success in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and spin-offs. Her career has spanned world-class companies and diverse industries, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, industrial manufacturing and medical devices.

Radtke holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. She also holds a SHRM-SCP certification and is a certified lean practitioner.

Hebert is the Vice President of Business Transformation for Ketjen Corporation. In this role, she leads activities related to Ketjen’s separation from Albemarle and drives growth strategies related to portfolio and asset management and commercial excellence.

Prior to this role, Hebert led Albemarle’s Catalyst Sales organization in the Americas as Senior Sales Director for FCC and CFT. Previously, she held several business leadership roles, including Global Business Director for FCC Catalyst and Director of Organometallics and Electronic Materials. Hebert joined Albemarle in 2000 and has held roles in IT, Sales & Operations Planning, Business and Sales within multiple business units, including Bromine and Catalyst.

Hebert earned a Bachelor of Science in Information System and Decisions Sciences and a minor in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University. She also holds a certification in Change Management focused on organizational transparency and communications.

Pinto has more than 30 years of commercial, technical, and product development experience, mostly in the refining catalyst world. Prior to this role, he served as Global Business Director for Albemarle’s PCS business, after serving as the company’s Global FCC Sales Director.

Pinto joined Albemarle in 2000 and has held a number of key commercial roles, including sales manager for LATAM, Sales Director for North America and FCC Technical Service Manager for five years. Additionally, he served as managing director for two of Albemarle’s Refining Solutions joint ventures: FCC SA and Eurecat LLC.

Pinto holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and an MBA from Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

David Chromy serves as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of Ketjen Corporation, leading the company’s efforts across the globe. Prior to joining Ketjen, Chromy served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of Albemarle’s Bromine and Fine Chemistry Services.  In 2019, he assumed his role at Ketjen.

Chromy brings more than 26 years of broad-based business and legal experience. Prior to Albemarle, Chromy served as Assistant General Counsel of Electrolux North America, the North American business unit of Electrolux, AB where he provided legal advice to various business lines in all aspects of legal affairs. Before joining Electrolux, Chromy was a Litigator at McGuireWoods focusing on complex commercial litigation, regulatory matters and internal investigations. Aside from his legal experience, Chromy has held various positions in compliance, business and sales. 

Chromy earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Boston College and juris doctorate from Loyola Marymount University.   

Hinojosa is the Senior Communications Director for Ketjen Corporation. In this role, she is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s internal and external communications strategy and associated activities, including media and community relations. Hinojosa brings more than two decades of experience in public relations, stakeholder engagement, executive communications and change management to this role, primarily in the oil and gas sector.

Prior to joining Ketjen, Hinojosa managed corporate communications for Nexeo Plastics. Throughout her career, she has helped a number of Fortune 500 companies and its leaders communicate with internal and external stakeholders and has assisted organizations in managing through change.

Hinojosa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a certification in change management.