Kuraray Co. Ltd. has announced Stephen L. Cox has been named General Manager of the Polyvinyl Butryal Division (PVB) and Vice President of Kuraray Americas, Inc. In his new role, Cox will be responsible for expanding the business as well as continuing the growth of Kuraray America’s glass lamination products and services. Cox will office out of Wilmington, DE and lead teams from around the world with production sites in the United States, Germany and South Korea.

Cox previously served as the General Manager of DuPont’s Glass Laminating Solutions (GLS) business since March of 2008. Over the past year, Cox transitioned the glass lamination group from DuPont into Kuraray and helped develop a new vision and strategy for the future combined global business. Today, Kuraray serves the architectural and automotive market with PVB and ionoplast sheet used as an interlayer in glass applications. This interlayer can provide improved strength, sound-damping properties, colors and many other various improved characteristics.

Cox said on the announcement, “We look forward to our continued growth together, bringing our European, American and Asian businesses together to best serve our customer with premium, market-leading product. With our improved, integrated product portfolio, we will be able to greatly benefit the automotive and architectural laminated glass industry.”

Cox graduated from the City of London Business School in Moorgate with an Honors Degree in Business Studies. He began his career at Berger Paints in 1980 as a Group Marketing Manager. He then worked for Herberts GmbH as the International Product Manager from 1985 to 1989. In 1989, he moved to the United States working for American Standox Inc. as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Between 1996 and 1998, he returned to Herberts GmbH as Executive Director for Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategy, Planning and Global Automotive OEM Manager. Prior to joining Kuraray, Cox worked for E.I. du Pont de Nemours from 1999-2014. He served as Vice President of DuPont Performance Materials in Wilmington, DE and before that DuPont Automotive OEM Coatings.