Nayak to lead Dow in Africa, India & Middle East

Dow India recently announced that Chandrakant ‘Chandra’ Nayak, currently Product Director for Polyurethanes in Asia-Pacific has been assigned to lead as Sales Director for Polyurethanes & POPG in Middle East, Africa and India, effective January 1, 2018. Chandra will report to Jonathan Penrice, Director, Dow PU for EMEAI and will be based in Mumbai, India.

In this new consolidated regional role, Chandra will be responsible for the development and execution of growth plans for high potential markets in Africa, India and the Middle East where the consumer opportunity will drive usage of polyurethanes. The role will span both the growth of specialties and systems as well as core polyurethane and PG products from the new capacity at both Dow and Sadara.

Chandra joined Dow India in 1995 in the Polyethylene business. After sales and Marketing roles in Plastics, he moved to Polyurethanes and Epoxy business to drive the business growth in Indian subcontinent. He was named PU Systems House Director in 2005 and then took over as India sales and marketing leader for Dow Automotive in 2008. He was named as India Country Business Development Leader in 2011 and assumed his current role in January 2015 where he has played a key part in driving profitable growth in Asia.

He has earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT). He holds a master’s degree in Marketing Management from the Mumbai University.