Evonik Industries group, one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals based in Germany, announced its new CEO for Central and South America. Elias Nahssen de Lacerda assumed his new position on October 1, 2019.
From October 1, Elias Nahssen de Lacerda, until then Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of "Nutrition & Care" business segment for Central and South America, replaced Weber Porto, who concludes his career of almost 36 years in Evonik and 17 years as president of the region.
Elias Lacerda is Brazilian, 45 years old and started his professional career at Evonik more than 20 years ago. He has held various positions in different business areas of the group and has extensive knowledge of the company and of the specialty chemicals market.
"It is an honour to assume the leadership in the Central and South American region, one of the main places for the growth of the Group and with significant expansion potential. My challenge is to contribute to regional growth seeking prosperity for our employees, for society and for shareholders," says Lacerda.
Background and career
Elias Lacerda assumes the new challenge very well prepared and having already achieved many results inside and outside Evonik. In 2013, he was awarded the "Best Young Executive in the Chemical Industry" after receiving the Handelsblatt Stratley Award from one of Germany's most important and influential media. At 38, the executive impressed the jury and was honoured by the magazine for its outstanding achievements as "Key Account Manager" at Evonik and for his customer-oriented leadership.
Graduated in Chemical Production Engineering at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering (FEI), he completed his academic training with a Master in Business Administration at the BSP - Business School Sao Paulo / Toronto Rotman Business School. He then completed a postgraduate degree in Global Account Management at St. Gallen / Columbia Business School, and specializations in the renowned business and finance schools International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and SGMI Institute of Management St. Gallen, both in Switzerland.
In 1996, he joined Evonik, at that time Degussa, through a training program, and in less than two months he was hired as a technical and commercial representative for the paint and coatings industry. From its first role, he held increasingly important positions.He established new relationships with customers and stimulated business expansion. Between 1999 and 2002, he worked in the Crosslinkers & Resins segment, where he became Product Manager for South America. In 2003 he assumed the position of Regional Commercial Director for South and Central America in the "Coatings and Colorants" segment at Degussa-Hüls.
After 10 years of experience in South America, he received the offer to move to Germany in 2006 as Vice President Regional Sales for the business "Fillers and Pigments" in Europe and emerging countries.
In 2010, he assumed the responsibility of global sales of the Silica business line and in 2015, the global marketing responsibility of one of Evonik's most important business lines: "Animal Nutrition".
After 12 years of international experience, in 2018 he returned to San Pablo as CFO and Vice President of "Nutrition & Care" in Central and South America.
"The experience acquired in Germany, in the world and in particular in all the countries of Central and South America, will be the basis of the new challenge at the head of the company's presidency in the region. These experiences have consolidated the foundations of my work view: customer satisfaction, results orientation and passion for people", says Elias Lacerda.