Jimmy van Rijn

Manager Process Development Epoxy Specialties at Westlake Epoxy

The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

About

Innovation leader for chemical process and product development. Specialized in identifying and creating new R&D projects and bringing these to maturity. Leading an international team of scientists and working with state of the art experts and equipment, both with internal and external partners. Responsible for laboratory management, creating a lab ready for the future and being a prime research location within Westlake.

Experience

  • Manager Process Development Epoxy Specialties at Westlake Epoxy
    Mar 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 5 mos

    managing an international R&D team with a focus on mid- to long-term strategic projects. In our R&D portfolio are both Process and Product Development, often involving strategic partnerships with customers, vendors and technology partners. Responsible for the state-of-the-art R&D laboratory, location the Netherlands. Since Feb 2025, I am also responsible for the QA/QC lab at our Pernis site.

  • Hexion Inc. (11 yrs 7 mos)
    • Program Coordinator
      Apr 2020 - Mar 2022 · 2 yrs

      Coordinate multiple strategic projects with a common theme. Projects are supported by multidisciplinary team. Prepare presentations and reports to stakeholders. Ensure alignment between projects in program. Monitoring of the timing and quality of deliverables, ensure activities stay connected across the program. Identify new technical and economic opportunities for program theme. Ensure all supporting functions remain aligned on program progress.

    • Project portfolio owner
      Apr 2017 - Apr 2020 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      responsible for management of the process development project portfolio of Base Epoxy Resins and Intermediates business. As portfolio owner I facilitate alignment of projects between Process Development, Commercial and Manufacturing teams. These teams are located in both the Netherlands and United States. Activities include project prioritization, stakeholder communication and requesting resources. Focus is value generation and strategic alignment.

    • Process Chemist
      May 2015 - Mar 2017 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Responsible for process research and technology, with the aim to implement in Hexion's processes. • Project leader for process development projects with chemistry focus • chemical expert for business group of epoxy resins and related processes. • translating laboratory efforts to the production plant and vice versa. • designing and improving of required experimental setup for laboratory projects Main topics: (parallel) catalysis and conditions screenings, process optimization and fast implementation, scale-up studies, engineering support, safety studies. Project subjects are more focussed on short term implementation as compared to previous function at Hexion.

  • PhD student at Leiden University
    Dec 2005 - Sep 2010 · 4 yrs 10 mos

    • Development of an industrial applicable process for the synthesis of epoxy resin components. • Catalyst synthesis, organometallic chemistry, catalyst screening, analytical method development

  • Internship Seeberger research group at ETH Zurich
    Nov 2004 - May 2005 · 7 mos

    Project: De-novo synthesis of glycosamines

  • Bio-organic Synthesis group at Leiden University
    Mar 2003 - Jan 2004 · 11 mos

    Project: Synthesis of identification tags and inhibitors for proteases