- Board Comprises Senior Leaders with Innovation, Technology, and Industrial Sector Expertise
- Spin-Off On Track for Completion in the Fourth Quarter of 2025
Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced the future Board of Directors for Solstice Advanced Materials (“Solstice”), a pure-play specialty materials company that will be created following its planned spin-off from Honeywell. Solstice will hold leading market positions in refrigerants, semiconductor materials, protective fibers, and healthcare packaging solutions.
Dr. Rajeev Gautam, former President and CEO of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT) business, will lead the 10-person Board as Independent Chair as previously announced. The Board will also include David Sewell, President and CEO of the Solstice Advanced Materials business, alongside prominent leaders with deep experience in the industrial, technology, chemicals, and materials sectors.
“This is an exceptional and strategically diversified group of directors, who will bring cross-sector insight and proven leadership across the industries and technologies that will shape Solstice’s future,” said Vimal Kapur, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell. “With their guidance, Solstice will be well-positioned to drive growth and deepen customer relationships from day one.”
David Sewell added, “Solstice will enter this next chapter with strong momentum, a clear strategic vision, and a team ready to deliver. I look forward to working with Rajeev and this accomplished group of directors as we prepare to launch an industry-leading company defined by innovation, operational excellence, and a sharp focus on long-term value creation for our stakeholders.”
The newly appointed Board of Directors will assume its role upon the completion of Solstice’s planned spin-off from Honeywell in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Biographical Information
The Solstice Advanced Materials Board will include the following individuals:
- Dr. Rajeev Gautam will serve as Independent Chair of the Board of Directors as previously announced. He brings more than 40 years of experience at Honeywell in the process technologies and advanced materials sectors. Prior to his retirement in 2021, he served as President and CEO of Honeywell PMT and previously served as President of Honeywell UOP. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of NN, Inc.
- David Sewell is the President and CEO of the Solstice Advanced Materials business. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the materials and chemicals industries, having served most recently as the President and CEO of WestRock Company. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of The Sherwin Williams Company and spent more than 15 years in General Electric’s Plastics and Advanced Materials Division. He currently serves on the Boards of the National Association of Manufacturers and Huntsman Corporation.
- Peter Gibbons recently served as Group President of Enterprise Supply Chain at 3M, where he oversaw manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering. Prior to 3M, he served as CEO of TireHub LLC, a joint venture between Bridgestone and Goodyear, and held leadership roles at Mattel, Starbucks, and ICI Paints Americas.
- Fiona Laird is Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President, Communications at Marathon Petroleum Corporation, an integrated downstream and midstream energy company operating the United States’ largest refining system. Prior to that, she was the Chief Human Resources Officer at Andeavor Corporation and before that at Newell Brands, having previously held global executive HR and Communications roles at Unilever PLC.
- Rose Lee recently retired as President and CEO of Cornerstone Building Brands, a leading manufacturer of exterior building products. Her prior leadership roles include executive positions at DuPont, Saint-Gobain, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Pratt & Whitney. She has served on the Boards of Cornerstone and Crown Holdings, and will continue to serve on the Board of Honeywell International until Solstice’s spin-off is completed.
- William Oplinger is President and CEO of Alcoa Corporation, a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum. Over the course of his tenure with the company, he has served in a number of senior leadership roles, including most recently as Chief Operating Officer, and for 10 years previously as Chief Financial Officer.
- Sivasankaran “Soma” Somasundaram served as President and CEO of ChampionX Corporation, a role he has held since leading its spin-off from Dover Corporation in 2018. The company was acquired in July 2025 by SLB, f.k.a., Schlumberger. He advanced through a series of leadership roles during his tenure with Dover, which began in 2004. He previously held global leadership roles at GL&V and Baker Hughes and currently serves on the Board of Lennox International.
- Matthew Trerotola recently retired as CEO and Chair of Enovis Corporation (formerly Colfax), an innovation-driven medical technology company. Prior to his roles at Enovis, he served as Executive Vice President at DuPont, where he led the Electronics & Communications and Safety & Protection segments and the Asia-Pacific region. He previously held various business and group leadership roles at DuPont and Danaher. He currently serves on the Board of AptarGroup, Inc.
- Patrick Ward served as Chief Financial Officer of Cummins Inc. from 2008 to 2019. Over a more than 30-year tenure, he held several senior financial roles across Cummins’ engine and power generation businesses. He currently serves on the Boards of Flex Ltd. and Corteva, Inc.
- Brian Worrell served as Chief Financial Officer of Baker Hughes from 2017 to 2022, then served as Advisor to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2022 to 2023. He held several senior financial roles at GE across its businesses culminating in his role as CFO, GE Oil & Gas from 2014 to 2017. He joined the Board of Ralliant Corporation in 2025.
