US functional ingredients maker P2 Science has appointed Oihana Elizalde as chief executive officer, effective immediately.
Oihana joins P2 after having previously served as head of sales for BASF Personal Care North America and general manager of the Mirum business at Natural Fiber Welding.
P2 says that experience, combined with Elizalde’s technical background including a PhD in polymer science from Universidad del País Vasco in Spain makes her its ideal leader as the Woodbridge, Connecticut company continues to grow its clean beauty portfolio and expand into new products and new markets.
Elizalde replaces Neil Burns, who retired in September having led P2 as chief executive from its spin-out from Yale University in 2011.
She joins P2 co-founder and president Patrick Foley to lead the commercialization of P2’s main technology platforms, PIOzTM (air oxidation of renewable oils) and PICETM (biorenewable liquid polymers, including Citropol) in personal care, flavours and fragrances, textiles, crop care, and other speciality chemical markets.
“Oihana brings a passion and set of skills to this team that will take us to the next level as we continue to bring green chemistry to the fore of the chemical industry,” said Foley.
Elizalde said: “I am honoured to join the talented team at P2 and lead this next phase of growth and expansion. P2 has grown into a leader in the field of green chemistry, offering products that set new standards in performance, functionality and sustainability.
“We are well positioned to rapidly grow our beauty business, expand into other strategic markets and keep harnessing the power of nature towards a cleaner future.”
