Eastman makes executive leadership changes

Materials supplier Eastman Chemical Co. is making some changes to its executive leadership.

In a June 7 news release, officials with the Kingsport, Tenn.-based company said that longtime Eastman executive Mark Cox will retire next year. Cox is currently senior vice president, chief manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering officer.

Mark Cox. Photo Credit: Eastman Chemical Co.

“It is with mixed emotions that we announce Mark’s retirement after more than 35 years of service,” said Mark Costa, board chair and CEO. “Mark has made a lasting impact on Eastman, and nowhere is that felt more deeply than in our manufacturing, engineering and construction, and supply chain organizations. With a focus on safety and reliability, he has led these teams through enormous change and challenges, transforming them to be even stronger, more efficient and effective in an increasingly competitive environment.”

Eastman also announced that executives Stephen Crawford, Julie McAlindon, and Christopher Killian will all have new roles within the company. Crawford, currently a senior vice president, has been named an executive vice president. In that new role, he’ll assume executive leadership of manufacturing and worldwide engineering and construction upon Cox’s retirement.

And Julie McAlindon and Dr. Christopher Killian have both been named to the executive team. McAlindon, who joined Eastman in 2016 and was chief procurement officer and vice president, transformation, is now senior vice president, supply chain, regions and transformation. Killian, joined Eastman in 1996 as a research chemist, has now been named senior vice president and chief technology officer.

Eastman makes specialty plastics and chemicals, including Tritan-brand copolyester. The firm employs 14,500 people worldwide and had revenues of US$8.5 billion in 2020.