Henkel Spins Off Cognis Corp.

LA GRANGE, Ill.-Henkel Corp. has transferred approximately 50 divisions that make up the Chemical Business segment (including Henkel Nutrition & Health Group), into a separate legal entity called Cognis Corp. The new entity is based in Cincinnati and its divisions post annual sales of more than $3.5 billion. Cognis Nutrition & Health Group will continue to supply natural antioxidant ingredients including Betatene(R), Pycnogenol(R) and Covitol(R). Henkel Corp. and Cognis Corp. share a parent operating company, Henkel KGAA.

Robert Betz, formerly president of the Henkel Corp. Chemicals group, is now president of Cognis Corp. Cognis has hired M. Michael Sundos, Ph.D., as vice president of Cognis Nutrition & Health. Sundos worked previously at Mycogen Corp. as vice president of business development. Manfred Dunker, Ph.D., who was head of the Nutrition & Health Group at Henkel will now serve as a strategic technical advisor for Cognis. "Under Manfred's leadership, Nutrition & Health has established its position as a leading developer and supplier of natural antioxidants [and] we thank Manfred for his invaluable contributions," Betz said.

While other personnel at the Nutrition & Health Division were unaffected in their positions, Cognis has announced three new hires. Steve Frandsen has rejoined the Nutrition & Health division as director of vitamin E and sterol products; he worked previously as a manager in Henkel Corp. Cognis Nutrition & Health has also added two salesmen, Bob Holly and C. Gregory Sowards.