Our Executive Committee
The World Plastics Council Executive Committee represents the Council and our members and steers the Council’s day to day operations.
Benny Mermans
Chairman of the World Plastics Council
Benny Mermans is Vice President Sustainability for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, a worldwide producer and marketer of petrochemical products equally owned by Chevron Corporation and Phillips 66.
Corporate experience extends across Exxon Chemical Company to Imperial Chemical Industries and for the past 30 years with Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, previously Phillips Petroleum.
Most recently he held the position of general manager of Europe, Africa and Middle East region, including the Chevron Phillips Chemical’s manufacturing operations in Belgium. Before being appointed as EAME region general manager, he held several managerial roles in technical, sales and operational functions for Chevron Phillips Chemical and its predecessor Phillips Petroleum, now Phillips 66.
Mermans holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from CTL in Ghent, Belgium.
Dr. Waleed Al-Shalfan
Vice President Polymer Technology & Innovation, SABIC
Dr. Waleed Al-Shalfan is currently Vice President Polymer Technology & Innovation, SABIC. Waleed started his career within SABIC, as a Physical Metallurgy Scientist, and since 2006, has held several key leadership posts. Prior to his current position, he served as Vice President of Polypropylene and Polyolefin Compounding Business Unit, Vice President of HDPE/PVC/PS Business Unit, General Manager of Corporate Research and Venturing, and General Manager of KSA Technology Centers.
He holds a PhD degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, USA, a Master degree in Advanced Metallurgy from Sheffield University, UK, and a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Waleed served as Board Vice Chairman, Saudi Petrochemical Company (Sadaf); Board Member, Saudi European Petrochemical Company (IbnZahr); and as SABIC representative in the Supervisory Committee of the National Plan for Science and Technology. He is currently Board Vice Chairman, Board Audit Committee Member, and Risk Management Committee Member, Saudi Kayan. Waleed is a Member in the Executive Committee of the World Plastics Council (WPC), and also a Board Member in the Saudi Investment Recycling Company. He has delivered many presentations, and has published various technical papers, at regional and international forums.
Mark Nikolich
Vice-President, North America, Braskem
Mark Nikolich holds a B.A. in Business Administration focusing on Marketing and Finance from Gettysburg College with executive studies at Columbia University and The Wharton School.
Nikolich started his career in polypropylene sales for Himont in 1988. Through tenure at Basell, Epsilon, and Sunoco, he has worked in the polyolefins and olefins industries for over 25 years. In 2010, he transitioned to Braskem after the acquisition of Sunoco Chemicals where he held various senior leadership positions in polymers, phenol, and refining chemicals. Nikolich established and led Braskem’s operations in Europe for three years after the acquisition of Dow’s polypropylene business in 2011. He and his family returned to the U.S. in 2014 where he accepted the position to lead Braskem’s polypropylene business unit in the U.S.
Ajay Shah
President, Polymer Chain, Reliance Industries Limited
Mr. Ajay Shah graduated from IIT – Kanpur in 1981 with a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engg. and followed it up with a Masters in Financial Management from Bombay University.
The Professional Career of Mr. Ajay Shah has spanned over 37 years in the polymers and chemicals industry, primarily with two organizations, namely, National Organic Chemical Industries Limited (NOCIL) and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). Joining NOCIL in 1981, he has experience in multiple functions including technology, operations research, manufacturing, corporate planning and communications, marketing and general management. The portfolios handled include a range of chemical and polymer products.
He also had an international experience with Shell Chemicals in The Hague, Netherlands for 3 years providing global technology support for the EO/EG and PO/Polyols range of products.
He joined Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in 2001.
In RIL too he has held a wide range of portfolios starting with the international business of polymers and subsequently being responsible for the PE, PP, PVC and Chemical business units over various periods.
Currently, Mr. Ajay Shah is the President for Polymer Chain which includes the polymer, cracker and elastomer portfolio.
Daniel Moore
Vice President, Polyethylene at ExxonMobil Product Solutions
Mr. Moore is Vice President, Polyethylene at ExxonMobil, based in Houston, Texas.
He joined ExxonMobil in 1996 and has held various manufacturing roles in refining and chemical operations in Europe. Subsequently, he held management positions in the company’s polymers, intermediates, and basic chemicals businesses in Europe, before moving to the US. In 2018, Mr. Moore became the Vice President, Catalysts and Licensing before taking the position of Vice President, Specialty Elastomers and Butyl in 2020.
Mr. Moore holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering, and has followed an economics programme at the Saïd Business School (University of Oxford).
Tracey Campbell
EVP Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, LyondellBasell
Tracey Campbell is Executive Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at LyondellBasell, where she is responsible for sustainability strategy and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, stakeholder engagements and communications, public policy, advocacy and corporate citizenship.
Ms. Campbell started her career with Dow Chemical after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, and joined LyondellBasell in 1998. She has more than 30 years of global petrochemical experience. This includes positions in the United States, Asia, and Canada in olefins and polyolefins and intermediates and derivatives business segments, feedstock supply, manufacturing, and production optimisation. She also has expertise in strategic planning, supply chain and research and development, and prior to her current role served as Vice President of Public Affairs.
In addition, Ms. Campbell has also held board and executive committee positions regarding LyondellBasell Joint Ventures in Thailand and China.
