Daniele Ferrari, 52, is Chief Executive Officer of Versalis SpA and Chairman of Matrica SpA, the green chemicals joint venture between Versalis and Novamont.

Under his leadership, the Eni chemical company has started a strategic move from a former “Polimeri Europa” focused on Europe into a new “Versalis” through the repositioning of its asset base, geography and portfolio.

With about 30 years of experience in the chemical industry, Ferrari has successfully built a reputable career in a variety of businesses. His fields of expertise has, amongst others, spanned operations, commercial, strategic planning, technology and management.

He began his career at InterWat (Idreco group), a water treatment engineering company. In 1982 he moved to the  Agip Petroli Chemical Refining and Technologies unit until 1986. He then joined the Milan-based offices of ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) where he held positions in a variety of areas including sales, technical development, chemicals and plastics marketing, and eventually serving as senior executive in 1990.

Internationally, in 1992 he moved to UK to join the “Klea” Fluorocarbons & Lubricants business headquarters and follow the business global development; he later took over the position of EMEA Commercial Director.

In 1996, he headed to the ICI’s European Brussels-based headquarters to serve as Global Business Unit Director for the Polyurethanes Intermediates industry.

Ferrari’s career took another turn when Huntsman Corporation acquired the bulk of ICI business in 1999 and the Rhodia-Albright & Wilson’s European business. After being involved in the acquisition, he was appointed Managing Director of the newly-integrated business Huntsman Surface Science-Italy and, later, EMEA.

His leadership played out in two high-growth businesses serving as Vice President EMEA of Brussels-based Huntsman Performance Products in 2004, one of the five operating companies within the group, and as President of the Global Division in 2008, based in Houston, TX.

Daniele Ferrari is also:

• Board member of CEFIC (Conseil Européen de l’Industrie Chimique) – Brussels, Belgium
• Vice-President of Federchimica (Italian Chemical Industry Council) for European Affairs and Economy
• President of PlasticsEurope – Italy
• Steering Board member of PlasticsEurope Brussels
• Chairman of PlasticsEurope Mediterranean Cluster