Page 66 - Delaware 222 - 2025

MANUFACTURING
Andrew Cottone
First State Hydrogen
As the Founder of First State
Hydrogen, Andrew Cottone is tasked
with developing the business plan,
establishing operational discipline
and leading the company through the
myriad challenges towards commercial
success. He built a team consisting
of employees and outside strategic
relationships that could lead to the
fi rst clean hydrogen plant in Delaware.
Like any entrepreneurial company,
Cottone is leveraging his 25 years of
leadership and operational success
to manage day to day operations that
include engineering, commercial,
land acquisition and ensuring overall
success of this transformational
venture. Now in its fi rst year of
operations, First State Hydrogen has
secured some of the millions in federal
funds hydrogen shot program.
ALMA MATERS:
BOARDS:
Q&A:
Lori Koch
DuPont
As the new Chief Executive Offi cer of
DuPont, Lori Koch is responsible for
overseeing the strategic direction of
the company to accelerate growth,
unlock value, advance innovation,
and to drive operational excellence.
Koch has stepped into the top job
of Delaware storied multinational
company at a time when it is planning
to spin off its water and electronics
divisions, leaving "new DuPont”
to manufacture iconic brands like
Tefl on and hold a strong footprint
in biopharma consumables, medical
devices and medical packaging. Prior
to her appointment to CEO in June
2024, she served as Chief Financial
Offi cer, where she played a leading role
in reshaping the company’s portfolio
for higher growth and profi tability,
driving operational discipline and
implementing a balanced fi nancial
policy. From November 2022 until June
2024, she also led DuPont’s corporate
businesses, which are focused on the
electric vehicle market.
ALMA MATERS:
BOARDS:
64 DELAWARE 222 | DelawareBusinessTimes.com
64 DELAWARE 222 | DelawareBusinessTimes.com
64 DELAWARE 222 | DelawareBusinessTimes.com
Denise Dignam
The Chemours Company
Denise Dignam, an industry veteran
and proven leader, is the fi rst woman
to be named President and CEO of
Chemours after leading two of the
company’s largest business units.
She started her career with DuPont
as a design engineer and joined
Chemours around the time it spun
off of Delaware’s largest corporation.
After moving into top marketing
roles for Chemours, she helped grow
the business for Nafi on and Krytox
businesses, including in Nation's
potential for the then-unknown
hydrogen industry. Guided by her
commitment to building trusting
relationships, Dignam is charting
the course for Chemours to thrive by
leaning into the company’s values
while driving toward sustainable
operations and science-driven
innovation to solve customers’
problems. Toward the end of 2024, she
oversaw Chemours' new strategy that
plans to save the company $250 million
by 2027 and focus on growing markets.
ALMA MATER:
BOARDS:
Q&A:
John Panichella
Solenis
When the former Ashland Water
Technologies segment was acquired
by private equity in 2014, the new
ownership turned to AWT’s then-
President John Panichella to lead
the specialty chemicals company to
newfound growth. As CEO of Solenis,
he has delivered, building a global
business with more than 16,000
employees at 70 sites around the
world in a range of water-intensive
industries, including municipal water
treatment, paper production and
residential cleaners. In 2024,, Solenis
has acquired new processes in the food
and beverage sector as well as mining
solution alone.
ALMA MATERS:
BOARDS:
Q&A: