Ross joined Sanachem (now Dow AgroSciences) at its Canelands site in August 1997 – at the time of Dow’s acquisition of the Sentrachem group. He worked for the next three years on the adoption of Dow’s systems and processes. In January 2001, Ross moved to Dow’s South African headquarters in Bryanston (Johannesburg) to assume the role of Regional Finance Director (Africa). Much of his time in this role was spent on further integration of core business and divestiture of non-core businesses. In June 2003, he assumed the additional role of Country Leader. In December 2006, he was appointed to the newly-created role of Business Director and Area Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, and then he was relocated to Dubai, UAE. In this role, Ross provides mergers and acquisitions (M&A) support, conducts strategic business options analysis, drives the commercialization of new business opportunities and technology platforms across businesses in the geography. He retains responsibility for geographic leadership in South Africa, extending this role to include Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ross has more than 16 years experience in chemicals and related industries. After working with General Chemical Corporation in Durban, South Africa, he moved to footwear component company Chamberlain Phipps, and then spent three years in the UK with specialty chemical group Laporte Plc, acquired by Degussa.
Ross graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and Honours in Accounting Science from the University of South Africa in 1985, and in 1986 he became a Chartered Accountant (South Africa).
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