Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE) and Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) today announced that Lori J. Ryerkerk, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Celanese, will be the recipient of the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for Corporate Reinvention. Ms. Ryerkerk will be honored at a reception and gala event on December 10, 2024, in New York City.

Celanese is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions used across most major industries and consumer applications. With net sales of $10.9 billion in 2023 and roots that date back over 100 years, the company’s approximately 12,400 employees harness chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for its customers, employees and shareholders.

"CME would like to recognize Lori Ryerkerk as an industry leader who has reshaped the organizational direction of Celanese with an outstanding impact on all stakeholders and the overall ecosystem in which the corporation operates," said CME Co-Chair Steve Barnett.

"We cannot think of a better industry role model who inspires STEM women and is dedicated to the advancement of diverse STEM talent leadership programs," noted CME Co-Chair and Legal Counsel Ksenia Takhistova.

“Our people are the driving force behind our success, and it’s an honor to represent the collective hard work of the entire Celanese team who made this award possible,” said Lori Ryerkerk, CEO of Celanese. “As we continue to grow both as a company and industry at large, we remain steadfast in our commitment to STEM talent programs to help foster a diverse future workforce. By opening our industry to a range of perspectives and ideas, we can ensure we connect with the best talent needed to innovate and accelerate future solutions to improve the world.”

About Lori J. Ryerkerk

Lori J. Ryerkerk is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Celanese Corporation, a Fortune 500 global chemical and specialty materials company based in Dallas, Texas. Celanese is a leader in the development and production of materials used in most major industrial and consumer applications. Ryerkerk was named as CEO, as well as a member of the board of directors, in May 2019. She was appointed Chairman in April 2020.

Ryerkerk’s expertise in the energy industry spans three-plus decades. She combines deep technical and commercial skills with a passion for the manufacturing business. Her unwavering focus on safety, environmental and social performance is the foundation on which she has overseen some of the most technically complex operations in the industry.

Previously, Ryerkerk was the Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing for the largest business in Shell Downstream Inc. She led a team of 30,000 employees and contractors at refineries and chemical sites worldwide. Ryerkerk joined Shell in May 2010 as the Regional Vice President of Manufacturing in Europe and Africa, and was responsible for the operation of five Shell Manufacturing facilities and five joint ventures. During that time, she improved operational performance of all assets in the region. In October 2013, she was named Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing, Shell Downstream Inc.

Before joining Shell, she was Senior Vice President, Refining, Supply and Terminals at Hess Corporation, where she was responsible for two refineries, 21 terminals (and distribution network) and supply and trading.

Prior to that, Ryerkerk spent 24 years with ExxonMobil where she started her career as a process technologist at a refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Throughout her tenure at ExxonMobil, she took on a variety of operational and senior leadership roles in Refining and Chemicals Manufacturing, Power Generation, and various other groups including Supply, Economics and Planning, HSSE, and Public Affairs/Government Relations. Those assignments took her across the globe, from the U.S. to Europe to Asia.

Ryerkerk is a graduate of Iowa State University, where she completed her Chemical Engineering degree. She currently serves on the board of directors of Eaton Corporation, a leading provider of power management technologies and services; and previously she served on the board of Axalta Coating Systems, a leading provider of liquid and powder coatings. Additionally, she actively supports a variety of organizations in her hometown of Beaumont, Texas.

About Celanese

Celanese is a global leader in chemistry, producing specialty material solutions used across most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use our chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees and shareholders. We are committed to sustainability by responsibly managing the materials we create for their entire lifecycle and are growing our portfolio of sustainable products to meet increasing customer and societal demand. We strive to make a positive impact in our communities and to foster inclusivity across our teams. Celanese is a Fortune 500 company that employs approximately 12,400 employees worldwide with 2023 net sales of $10.9 billion.

About CME STEM Leadership Awards™

Established in 2012, the CME STEM Leadership Awards are the highest honors given to outstanding leaders in various sectors of society for harnessing the transformative power of chemistry to advance humanity. This award-winning event is dedicated to the advancement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. Past honorees include Ken Frazer (Merck), Seifi Ghasemi (Air Products), Jim Fitterling (Dow), Daniel D’Aniello (Carlyle), Martin Brudermüller (BASF), Ed Breen (DowDuPont), Henry Kravis (KKR), James and Marilyn Simons (Simons Foundation), David Skorton (Smithsonian), James Green (NASA), David Cote (Honeywell), Craig Venter (HLI, Celera Genomics), and Roy Vagelos (Merck).

Leaders in industry, finance, philanthropy and academia will participate in CME’s STEM Leadership Awards reception and gala luncheon. Funds raised at the event will help advance exciting STEM programs including free student industry luncheons, Space Chemistry Roadmap, Chemistry Festivals, and the award-winning annual CME-NASA Symposiums aimed at advancing science and technology for humanity’s journey to Mars and beyond for the benefit of humanity. To make donations or sponsor tables, please write to contact@cme-stem.org.

About Chemical Marketing & Economics

With roots that date back to 1954, Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) is a forward-looking 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to accelerating diverse STEM talent and leadership for sustainable innovation in energy, materials and life sciences. CME brings together Nobel Laureates and the leaders of industry, government, academia, philanthropy, and the public to share cutting-edge insights through exciting events and award-winning programs, such as the CME STEM Leadership Awards™, the CME NASA Symposiums and Sustainability Conferences as well as the original CME Student & Mentor Awards™ and STEM Festivals. For more information, visit www.cme-stem.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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