August 29, 2025 • 9 mins
Tony O’Donovan is President & Chief Executive Officer of Arkema Inc. He oversees Arkema activities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and is regional head of Arkema Group in North America. O’Donovan is focused on driving strategic growth to achieve the Group’s ambition to become a pure specialty materials player. O’Donovan began his career at Arkema in 2013 as Global Supply Chain Director, Fluorochemicals, and most recently served as Regional Group President with responsibility for all Arkema Fluorochemicals business in the Americas. Prior to joining Arkema, he held a range of manufacturing, supply chain and business leadership roles for Degussa Specialty Chemicals in South Africa, and for FMC in Canada and the United States. O’Donovan holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D., both in Chemical Engineering, from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is qualified as a Professional Engineer in South Africa and Canada and is a chartered member of the British Institute of Chemical Engineers.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
CEOs you should know. Brought to you by Comcast Business
Meet Tony O'Donovan, President and CEO of Arkama, Inc. And
Regional head of Arkima Group in North America. With a
PhD in Chemical engineering and decades of global leadership experience,
O'Donovan is driving Arkama's mission to innovate sustainable, high performance
materials that power industries range from healthcare and semiconductors to
(00:22):
renewable energy and sports. Headquartered in Radna, Pennsylvania, Kama employs
more than thirty six hundred people across the US and
continues to expand its impact through a strong commitment to innovation, inclusion,
and education. So Tony tell us about Arkama. What exactly
does the company do and how does it impact our
daily lives.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, Alkima is a special materials company, and our purpose
is to bring sustainable solutions to the world, which really
means that we're bringing a lot of materials to companies
that impact people's lives. So you don't necessarily see Alkima's
materials live, but you see them in a lot of
products that you touch day today.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Alkima is based in Harris, but your America's HQ is
right here in Radner, PA. Can you talk about your
presence in facilities across the Philadelphia region and beyond.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Alkama has has the main headquarters in Radner. We have
about five hundred and fifty odd people that work in
that area, and then we have research centers in Exton,
Aking of Prussia. And then we have manufacturing facilities in
Bursboro and Burst County in west Chester and Chester County,
and also across the river in Paulsboro and Gloucester County,
New Jersey. So overall it's about just shy of one
(01:28):
thousand people in the Philadelphia area.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
What would you say is the mission of Arkama.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Arkam's mission is to bring sustainable solutions to the world.
So what we're doing is we make materials. We make coatings,
adhesives and advanced materials that we sell to companies that
incorporate and make products that people see in the every
allies where that it be from dental applications to sportswear,
to semiconductors, some of the smartphones and also into aerospace,
(01:54):
so people touch them on a regular basis. And what
we want to do is make the high performing materials
that are valued by our customers.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Sustainability is a major part of Arkhama's mission. How do
your materials contribute to making everyday products more renewable and efficient.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
We have a variety of examples. So we have some products.
For instance, we make a line of polymer that comes
from Casta beans, which is very interesting, and so what
that does is obviously we use the caster oil to
make a polymer that then goes and be produced into
materials that people can weigh into sports e coopment particularly
which is well sought after, and then obviously that can
(02:29):
be reused and recycled. We have other composites that can
be completely recycled in areas like wind turbine blades, which
otherwise would end up in landfill now can be recycled.
And we have a line also that goes into marine crafts,
so you can recycle a boat into wind turbine blade,
recycle the winterbine blade into a kitchen countertop, and keep going,
keep the cycle going. Probably our biggest aspect is providing
(02:51):
durability for materials that our customers can use. So whether
it's a three D printed machine path that can be
used and that's stronger than steel and be used in aerospace,
or whether it be something in the semiconductive field that
we will allow customers to be able to make high
performing chips at a much better aspect ratio using our
product that they would be replacing somebody that would have
(03:12):
a global warming impact.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
For instance, so many of our materials are made from
oil based petroleum based products, and to have something like
castor oil be translated into something that can be used
in all the different aspects in which they can be applied.
Akima is deeply involved in community engagement, from Habitat for
Humanity to supporting the Philadelphia Union Foundation. Tell us why
(03:35):
these efforts in community engagement are important to you and
the company.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So our efforts on the sort of more philanthropic side
are really tied to a couple of things. One is,
we see ourselves very much as part of the community.
We have strong values that we work as a company,
and one of our values, for instance or two of
them are solidarity and inclusion. So we want to make
sure that our employees can experience that and be tied
to the communities that come from. For instance, our partnership
(04:01):
with Habitature Humanity brings the ability to be part of
the community support Philadelphia in particular. It also ties into
one of our market areas, which is building construction. Injia
efficiency housing is about half of what we do in
North America, for instance. Other areas, we really want to
make sure that we make an impact in people's lives.
Our employees really enjoy volunteering and seeing the impact they
(04:21):
bring to people's lives, particularly around areas of education. Plus,
one of other areas that we are in the market
is sports, so that brings about the association with the
Philadelphia Union Foundation where employees get to volunteer and help
in some of the areas that the Foundation is working
with some of the young athletes and students in Chester.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
That's great because we've done a lot of work with
the Philadelphia Union Foundation. They do some really cool things.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
It's an amazing organization and it really is kind of
a nice model that we would like to see in
other areas across the States because we have other head
office corporations in other areas, so we would like to
expand in that area because Arkham globally is very tired
into soccer, and you know, because a lot of our
products are used in soccer, cleats and clothing, et cetera.
Like that, so it is a good way that we
can show our product. Let's also keep our employees engaged.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yeah, and especially as we're heading into twenty twenty six
with the World Cup coming to Philadelphia and certainly sport
being a big factor next year, it seems like Arkhama
is right where it needs to be right now.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, I know, we're very excited, and I would say
employee response has been amazing around both these initiatives, and
it's really good to be able to go to Union
game and to see the name out there and to
be able to share that with our employees.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
What kinds of careers and opportunities are available at Aarkama,
especially for young people in STEM fields who might be listening.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So most of our employees come from one of the
STEM fields, whether it be material scientists or chemist in
our research facilities, or more on the engineering side in
our manufacturing facilities. Out of our three and a half
thousand employees, about two thirds of them working manufacturing and
a good ten to fifteen percent of them work in
R and D, so they're a big education for those areas.
(05:57):
But even on our business side, we have a lot
of employees working on marketing sales et cetera. Looking at
the value proposition, and then obviously you need all your
support functions from supply chain, human resources, finance, legal, et cetera. Communications.
So we have a wide range of opportunities for a
lot of people, and obviously we're always looking for good talent.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You've worked across multiple continents. I wonder if you can
talk about what excites you most about leading Arkama in
North America and what message do you have the Philadelphia region.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
I would say in North America, the excitement is really
around the fact that a lot of the opportunities are
really driven by competition. There's a lot of fierce competition
in North America for not just our materials but technologies,
and it's a great place for innovation and to get
new technologies applied, and that is very exciting for us.
We're seeing a huge growth in the area from my
applications in the LIES. A lot of the decisions that
(06:48):
are made on new technologies are made in the US,
so we have grown in importance not just in the area,
but also within the global company of Arkama. We used
to be less than thirty percent of what Arkma does,
growing to be well more than a third of the
company globally, so it's very exciting and it's an exciting
employee base. If I look at Philadelphia compared to other
places I've lived, we have really good people that are
(07:10):
very well internationally connected, highly educated, and a good sense
of community and really tie into some of the values
that Akhima likes to portray, which is around sididarity, inclusion, performance.
Those are values we want to have and the people
fit really well. So we find that people that join
Arkhima from the Philadelphia region are really successful with.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Us and our bonus question, what's something surprising that people
might not know about Arkima or about you personally that
might inspire future leaders or innovators.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Well, that is a out of the box question, so
I have to think about that a little bit. I
would say, as far as Akima is concerned, I think
it's a little bit of a one of those companies
that people don't know a much, but they're a little
bit surprised about how much of their products they actually
touch every day. Whether it be sort of the peedbacks
in the running shoes, which I know a lot of
marathon runners really go after, or whether it will be
(07:59):
in sort of the three d printed dicycle helmets, or
the sports equipment that we go in that area, or
even just in terms of the smartphones that people hold
every day, how many of our products are actually that
they're touching every single day.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Any final words that you'd like to share with.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Us before we close, just that I'm obviously very excited
to be here, very excited that Akima is part of
the Philadelphia area and it is a really great place
to have our headquarters. So yeah, I think and I
think this is a great series. You need to know
a little bit more about some of the companies in
the areas. So thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Wonderful speaking with you. Tony O'Donovan, President and CEO of Arkama, Inc.
And regional head of Kama Group in North America, which
is an organization and a company that promotes sustainable, high
performance materials that power industry is ranging from healthcare and
semiconductors to renewable energy and sport. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
To find out more, go to Argama dot com Comcast
Business Powering the engine of modern business, powering possibilities
CEOs you should know. Brought to you by Comcast Business
Meet Tony O'Donovan, President and CEO of Arkama, Inc. And
Regional head of Arkima Group in North America. With a
PhD in Chemical engineering and decades of global leadership experience,
O'Donovan is driving Arkama's mission to innovate sustainable, high performance
materials that power industries range from healthcare and semiconductors to
(00:22):
renewable energy and sports. Headquartered in Radna, Pennsylvania, Kama employs
more than thirty six hundred people across the US and
continues to expand its impact through a strong commitment to innovation, inclusion,
and education. So Tony tell us about Arkama. What exactly
does the company do and how does it impact our
daily lives.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, Alkima is a special materials company, and our purpose
is to bring sustainable solutions to the world, which really
means that we're bringing a lot of materials to companies
that impact people's lives. So you don't necessarily see Alkima's
materials live, but you see them in a lot of
products that you touch day today.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Alkima is based in Harris, but your America's HQ is
right here in Radner, PA. Can you talk about your
presence in facilities across the Philadelphia region and beyond.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Alkama has has the main headquarters in Radner. We have
about five hundred and fifty odd people that work in
that area, and then we have research centers in Exton,
Aking of Prussia. And then we have manufacturing facilities in
Bursboro and Burst County in west Chester and Chester County,
and also across the river in Paulsboro and Gloucester County,
New Jersey. So overall it's about just shy of one
(01:28):
thousand people in the Philadelphia area.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
What would you say is the mission of Arkama.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Arkam's mission is to bring sustainable solutions to the world.
So what we're doing is we make materials. We make coatings,
adhesives and advanced materials that we sell to companies that
incorporate and make products that people see in the every
allies where that it be from dental applications to sportswear,
to semiconductors, some of the smartphones and also into aerospace,
(01:54):
so people touch them on a regular basis. And what
we want to do is make the high performing materials
that are valued by our customers.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Sustainability is a major part of Arkhama's mission. How do
your materials contribute to making everyday products more renewable and efficient.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
We have a variety of examples. So we have some products.
For instance, we make a line of polymer that comes
from Casta beans, which is very interesting, and so what
that does is obviously we use the caster oil to
make a polymer that then goes and be produced into
materials that people can weigh into sports e coopment particularly
which is well sought after, and then obviously that can
(02:29):
be reused and recycled. We have other composites that can
be completely recycled in areas like wind turbine blades, which
otherwise would end up in landfill now can be recycled.
And we have a line also that goes into marine crafts,
so you can recycle a boat into wind turbine blade,
recycle the winterbine blade into a kitchen countertop, and keep going,
keep the cycle going. Probably our biggest aspect is providing
(02:51):
durability for materials that our customers can use. So whether
it's a three D printed machine path that can be
used and that's stronger than steel and be used in aerospace,
or whether it be something in the semiconductive field that
we will allow customers to be able to make high
performing chips at a much better aspect ratio using our
product that they would be replacing somebody that would have
(03:12):
a global warming impact.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
For instance, so many of our materials are made from
oil based petroleum based products, and to have something like
castor oil be translated into something that can be used
in all the different aspects in which they can be applied.
Akima is deeply involved in community engagement, from Habitat for
Humanity to supporting the Philadelphia Union Foundation. Tell us why
(03:35):
these efforts in community engagement are important to you and
the company.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So our efforts on the sort of more philanthropic side
are really tied to a couple of things. One is,
we see ourselves very much as part of the community.
We have strong values that we work as a company,
and one of our values, for instance or two of
them are solidarity and inclusion. So we want to make
sure that our employees can experience that and be tied
to the communities that come from. For instance, our partnership
(04:01):
with Habitature Humanity brings the ability to be part of
the community support Philadelphia in particular. It also ties into
one of our market areas, which is building construction. Injia
efficiency housing is about half of what we do in
North America, for instance. Other areas, we really want to
make sure that we make an impact in people's lives.
Our employees really enjoy volunteering and seeing the impact they
(04:21):
bring to people's lives, particularly around areas of education. Plus,
one of other areas that we are in the market
is sports, so that brings about the association with the
Philadelphia Union Foundation where employees get to volunteer and help
in some of the areas that the Foundation is working
with some of the young athletes and students in Chester.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
That's great because we've done a lot of work with
the Philadelphia Union Foundation. They do some really cool things.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
It's an amazing organization and it really is kind of
a nice model that we would like to see in
other areas across the States because we have other head
office corporations in other areas, so we would like to
expand in that area because Arkham globally is very tired
into soccer, and you know, because a lot of our
products are used in soccer, cleats and clothing, et cetera.
Like that, so it is a good way that we
can show our product. Let's also keep our employees engaged.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yeah, and especially as we're heading into twenty twenty six
with the World Cup coming to Philadelphia and certainly sport
being a big factor next year, it seems like Arkhama
is right where it needs to be right now.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, I know, we're very excited, and I would say
employee response has been amazing around both these initiatives, and
it's really good to be able to go to Union
game and to see the name out there and to
be able to share that with our employees.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
What kinds of careers and opportunities are available at Aarkama,
especially for young people in STEM fields who might be listening.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
So most of our employees come from one of the
STEM fields, whether it be material scientists or chemist in
our research facilities, or more on the engineering side in
our manufacturing facilities. Out of our three and a half
thousand employees, about two thirds of them working manufacturing and
a good ten to fifteen percent of them work in
R and D, so they're a big education for those areas.
(05:57):
But even on our business side, we have a lot
of employees working on marketing sales et cetera. Looking at
the value proposition, and then obviously you need all your
support functions from supply chain, human resources, finance, legal, et cetera. Communications.
So we have a wide range of opportunities for a
lot of people, and obviously we're always looking for good talent.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
You've worked across multiple continents. I wonder if you can
talk about what excites you most about leading Arkama in
North America and what message do you have the Philadelphia region.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
I would say in North America, the excitement is really
around the fact that a lot of the opportunities are
really driven by competition. There's a lot of fierce competition
in North America for not just our materials but technologies,
and it's a great place for innovation and to get
new technologies applied, and that is very exciting for us.
We're seeing a huge growth in the area from my
applications in the LIES. A lot of the decisions that
(06:48):
are made on new technologies are made in the US,
so we have grown in importance not just in the area,
but also within the global company of Arkama. We used
to be less than thirty percent of what Arkma does,
growing to be well more than a third of the
company globally, so it's very exciting and it's an exciting
employee base. If I look at Philadelphia compared to other
places I've lived, we have really good people that are
(07:10):
very well internationally connected, highly educated, and a good sense
of community and really tie into some of the values
that Akhima likes to portray, which is around sididarity, inclusion, performance.
Those are values we want to have and the people
fit really well. So we find that people that join
Arkhima from the Philadelphia region are really successful with.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Us and our bonus question, what's something surprising that people
might not know about Arkima or about you personally that
might inspire future leaders or innovators.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Well, that is a out of the box question, so
I have to think about that a little bit. I
would say, as far as Akima is concerned, I think
it's a little bit of a one of those companies
that people don't know a much, but they're a little
bit surprised about how much of their products they actually
touch every day. Whether it be sort of the peedbacks
in the running shoes, which I know a lot of
marathon runners really go after, or whether it will be
(07:59):
in sort of the three d printed dicycle helmets, or
the sports equipment that we go in that area, or
even just in terms of the smartphones that people hold
every day, how many of our products are actually that
they're touching every single day.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Any final words that you'd like to share with.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Us before we close, just that I'm obviously very excited
to be here, very excited that Akima is part of
the Philadelphia area and it is a really great place
to have our headquarters. So yeah, I think and I
think this is a great series. You need to know
a little bit more about some of the companies in
the areas. So thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Wonderful speaking with you. Tony O'Donovan, President and CEO of Arkama, Inc.
And regional head of Kama Group in North America, which
is an organization and a company that promotes sustainable, high
performance materials that power industry is ranging from healthcare and
semiconductors to renewable energy and sport. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
To find out more, go to Argama dot com Comcast
Business Powering the engine of modern business, powering possibilities
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