1997
James S. Lee
1963 B.S. Chemical Engineering

With service to the Henkel Corporation spanning more than twenty-seven years, James S. Lee brings a great deal of expertise in technical product development and sales/marketing to the company he now serves as executive vice president. Before his employment with Henkel began in 1987, Jim accepted a position with Goodyear Tire where he worked for six years. In 1969, Jim left Goodyear to become group leader/ product line supervisor at the Diamond Shamrock Company. Jim advanced through the ranks to become business manager of the coating chemicals line.

In 1987, Henkel Corporation purchased the Process Chemical division of Diamond Shamrock, and Jim became vice president of coating chemicals for the corporation. He was promoted to executive vice president of the Functional Products Group in 1990, and accepted his current position as executive vice president, Chemicals Group, in 1996. In preparation for his new responsiblilities with Henkel, Jim spent time training in Dusseldorf, Germany - the corporation's headquarters - gaining further exposure to the technology of the Functional Products Group for which he is now responsible.

Today, the Henkel Corporation is divided into three main segments: Chemicals, Adhesives, and Metal Chemicals. Henkel Corporation, based in Gulph Mills, PA, provides innovative chemicals and related services that are effective, cost competitive, and high quality. With an emphasis on naturally derived products and leading technologies, the company develops solutions that offer improved environmental compatibility for manufacturers in major industrial sectors. Henkel Corporation is the North American operating company of the Henkel Group, Germany. The Henkel Group is a world leader in ingredients for personal-care products and surfactants, and the leading manufacturer of oleochemicals makd from natural oils and fats.

This Penn State engineer continued with studies at the University of Akron to receive his master's degree in polymer chemistry. He has been active in the Penn State Alumni Association, and has returned to the College of Engineering as guest speaker for various chemical engineering courses. In addition, he has initiated cooperative education placement possibilities between Penn State's engineering students and Henkel's Kankakee, IL, plant.

Current as of 1997

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