The board of directors of SONGWON Industrial Group, a specialty chemical manufacturer headquartered in Ulsan, South Korea, announced with deep sadness the unexpected death of the company’s CEO, Maurizio Butti, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019.
Butti was chief executive officer and executive board member of SONGWON Industrial Group, a position he held since March 2016. Prior to this position, he was COO of SONGWON Industrial Group and a member of the group’s executive committee.
As CEO, Butti spearheaded the implementation of all the group’s business and day-to-day operating activities, from revenue and sales growth, expenses, cost and margin control to monthly, quarterly and annual financial goal management. He provided strategic direction at SONGWON and oversaw all functions within the organization from innovation and production to regulatory and EH&S. Working closely with each division, he also led the Group’s business development and sustainability efforts. This involved translating SONGWON’s strategy into operational initiatives and performance in order to enhance productivity, efficiency and profitability.
Butti motivated and empowered every level of the organization. With his approachable but results-driven leadership style, unwavering belief in SONGWON and its strong unified team, he built a solid foundation for a prosperous future for SONGWON in the specialty chemicals industry.
Before joining the organization in 2006, Butti was executive vice president-polymer stabilizers and member of the Chief Executive Council of Great Lakes Chemical Corporation. Prior to that he held various marketing, business, strategic planning and corporate development management positions at Great Lakes, Enichem and SOL Industries.
Butti received a master’s degree in chemical engineering in 1982 from the Polytechnic of Milan and an MBA in 1987 from the Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
Jongho Park, chairman of the board, commented: “The entire SONGWON family mourns the sudden loss of our CEO. With the organization since 2006, Maurizio was an inspiring leader, managing the company with humor, integrity and passion. His dedication to the transformation and development of the company was immense. On behalf of SONGWON’s management team and employees, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Maurizio’s family at this very sad and difficult time.”
In the interim, Jongho Park will serve as acting CEO while the company works on the succession planning. Further information will be released in due course.
For more information, visit www.songwon.com.
