Presperse Announces Paulo Rodrigues as New President and CEO

SOMERSET, N.J., March 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Presperse Corporation ("Presperse" or "the Company"), a leading U.S. cosmetic ingredients supplier, together with its parent company, Sumitomo Corporation ("Sumitomo"), announced new leadership appointments to support Sumitomo's global cosmetic business.  Effective April 1, Koh Akiyama, Presperse's President and CEO, will return to Tokyo, Japan to lead Sumitomo's Global Cosmetics Group as Deputy General Manager in the Medical Science Department.  Current Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations at Presperse, Paulo Rodrigues, will succeed Mr. Akiyama as the new President and CEO of Presperse.

Mr. Akiyama brings a wealth of global personal care knowledge and management experience to his new role within Sumitomo.  During his tenure as President and CEO, he reshaped the organization, expanded the business into many new regions and achieved strong revenue growth.   Prior to joining the Company in 2014, Mr. Akiyama served as chairman of the board of directors for Presperse and was also a board member of Sumitomo Corporation cosmetics group companies, Cosmotec and Summit Pharmaceuticals Europe (SPE). He brings over 30 years of experience in the chemicals industry, including nearly 15 of those years based in New York.

"Paulo has demonstrated exceptional commercial leadership since joining Presperse and has positioned the business for sustained growth through innovation and operational excellence.  He has gained the respect of the employees, shareholders, and our business partners.  I am looking forward to continuing to work with Paulo to grow Sumitomo's global cosmetics business," said Mr. Akiyama. 

Mr. Rodrigues joined Presperse in July 2015 as Director of Sales and under his leadership, he successfully implemented several projects that delivered both top and bottom line growth.  Most recently, Mr. Rodrigues has overseen all commercial operations for Presperse, including Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, and Sales.   Prior to joining Presperse, Mr. Rodrigues held senior leadership positions in personal care with Cognis, Givaudan, BASF, and DSM.    

"I am honored that the Presperse Board of Directors chose me to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Akiyama and I am humbled to work with such an amazingly talented team," said Mr. Rodrigues. "Delighting our customers as an innovation partner and delivering operational excellence will be the focus for continued future growth; combined with the backing of Sumitomo and its network, I see tremendous potential for our business in the future, and look forward to leading our team toward greater opportunities."

In 2010, Sumitomo Corporation expanded its business in the cosmetic and personal care market by acquiring 100% ownership of Presperse.  Further expanding its global footprint into South America, in 2013 Sumitomo created Cosmotec, a JV with COSMOTEC EXPECIALIDADES QUIMICAS LTDA, a leading supplier of cosmetic ingredients and pet care supplies in Brazil.  Together with its other European JV company, SPE, headquartered in Dusseldorf, Sumitomo's Cosmetic business group provides global industry coverage. These three Sumitomo Corporation group companies will exhibit together at In-Cosmetics Global in Amsterdam April 17^th – 19^th at stand M100. For interview requests during the In-Cosmetics showcase, please contact Amy Babcock at [email protected].

About Presperse Corporation
Presperse is a premier supplier of innovative technical solutions for its global customers, and intends to remain a market leader for raw materials used in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Industry. The Company strives to accomplish its goals by exceeding customer expectations, offering outstanding technical solutions for their formulating needs, and backing up this technology with unparalleled sales and customer service. Presperse is committed to ensure compliance with requirements of ISO 9001-2015 international standards and to continually improve the effectiveness of its quality management system.

About Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York City, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) has 9 offices in major U.S. cities. SCOA is the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world's leading traders of goods and services. As an integrated business enterprise, the firm has emerged as a major organizer of multinational projects, an expediter of ideas, an important international investor and financier, and a powerful force for distribution of products and global communications through a network of offices worldwide. Its core business units include Tubular Products, Environment and Infrastructure, Steel and Non Ferrous Metals, Transportation and Construction Systems, Chemicals and Electronics, Media and IOT Applications, Real Estate, Mineral Resources and Energy, and Food.

About Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation ("SC") is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 109 locations in 66 countries and 22 locations in Japan. The entire SC Group consists of more than 800 companies and nearly 70,000 personnel. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides related customers with various financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC's core business areas include Metal Products, Transportation and Construction Systems, Environment and Infrastructure, Media, Network, Lifestyle Related Goods and Services, Mineral Resources, Energy, and Chemical and Electronics.

SOURCE Presperse Corporation