WACKER Chemical Corporation announced the addition of Kenneth Collins as senior director, site leader of its Charleston site, where he will oversee all operations of the $2.65 billion, 650-employee production facility that manufactures hyper-pure polysilicon and pyrogenic silica for the global market.
Mr. Collins joins WACKER from Owens Corning, where he most recently served as plant manager of the company’s Wabash, In., site and led measurable improvements in safety, environmental and operational performance.
His eight-year Owens Corning tenure also included a plant manager post at the company’s Aiken, SC, site, where he achieved similar improvements.
Mr. Collins’ extensive experience in manufacturing includes the areas of operations, environmental health and safety, reliability, human resources, regulatory compliance, supply chain, quality control and maintenance. Mr. Collins’ other career posts have included leadership roles with First Quality Tissue, Arizona Chemical, International Paper and Procter & Gamble.
Mr. Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida.
“Our team welcomes Ken and the remarkable skill sets he brings to our site in Bradley County, Tennessee,” said WACKER Chemical Corporation President and CEO David Wilhoit. “Ken’s decades of proven expertise across diverse management disciplines aligns with our position that Safety is a precondition of all we do. Ken will guide our Charleston team in continuous improvements at the site as we look toward opportunities for future growth and expansion."