Minafin Group strengthens executive team

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, February 3, 2021 – The Minafin Group, a leading developer and manufacturer of fine chemicals for the life sciences and high-tech industries, today announces the appointments of Gust Desmedt as chief strategy officer (CSO) and Minh Hua as chief information and operational excellence officer (CIOEO). Ms. Hua and Mr. Desmedt are both members of the group’s executive committee.

Minafin operates six industrial manufacturing sites across Europe and North America. It provides a wide range of chemical products and services in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture and hi-tech. Both appointments are being made at a time when requirements for purity, containment and traceability in the fine chemical industry are more stringent, customers are seeking more value-added solutions and services, and international competition is fiercer.

“We are pleased to welcome Gust to Minafin and reward Minh for her talent and global management skills,” said Frederic Gauchet, president of the Minafin Group. “Their appointments express our determination to further expand the horizons of the Minafin Group and broaden operational excellence. Gust’s skillset will strengthen our capacity to face today’s challenges and better serve the future needs of the market and our global customers. Minh will make us more robust and competitive, able to seize opportunities and keep growing.”

Mr. Desmedt, who has international, strategic and managerial experience in the chemical industry spanning 15 years, joins Minafin from Solvay, where he worked as business unit and corporate strategy director for six years. He will be responsible for developing a new corporate strategy geared to higher productivity and efficiency gains, enhancing the synergies among Minafin’s affiliates and making strategic investments, including acquisitions, partnerships and divestments, among other growth activities. Gust holds a master’s degree in electro- mechanical engineering from Ghent University (Belgium) and an executive MBA from the Vlerick Management School (Belgium). He speaks Dutch, French, English and some German.

“I am delighted to join Minafin, a dynamic company and a key player in fine chemicals that is agile and has vast potential,” said Mr. Desmedt. “I am looking forward to putting my strategic, operational management and business development skills to use, making a real contribution to the efforts already made by each team and working to bring Minafin further success.“

Within Ms. Hua’s extended mission, she will lead the team to roll out an ‘Operational Excellence’ program, which was successfully tested at affiliate Minakem, across the whole Minafin group. The program is designed to improve the efficiency and productivity of all operations, supply chains and support functions.

“I am excited about my new role and eager to collaborate with colleagues across the whole group on implementing innovative ways of working,” said Ms Hua.

About the Minafin Group

The Minafin Group is a leading developer and manufacturer of green or highly demanding chemicals for customers in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture and hi-tech. It offers a range of proprietary products, custom manufacturing, industrial process development and services, and multi-purpose green chemistry formulations. Minafin invests significantly in R&D to create value for customers by specializing in innovations and eco-friendly solutions that bring a competitive edge and sustainability. Its strong industrial capabilities are consolidated through seven affiliates: Minakem, Pennakem, Minasolve, Minagro, Minascent, EcoXtract and Pressure Chemicals, which generated over €240M in revenue in 2020. Founded in 2004 as a privately-held industrial company, Minafin is headquartered in Belgium and employs 900 staff.

www.minafin.com