Germany-based specialty chemicals supplier Cognis GmbH recently opened a branch office in Auckland,
New Zealand. The office will be responsible for marketing and selling products directly in New
Zealand for all three Cognis strategic business units (SBUs) – Care Chemicals, Nutrition and
Health, and Functional Products. Cognis has appointed a market segment manager for each SBU in New
Zealand: Peter Gibson will manage the Care Chemicals product line; Vinod Sareen will be responsible
for Functional Products; and Domnic Lobo will handle Nutrition and Health.
“The new branch office in New Zealand will help us to understand the local market even
better, and anticipate developments there at an earlier stage,” said Roger Taylor, Cognis’ legal
representative for Australia, also responsible for the company’s New Zealand operation. “A local
presence will further strengthen our customers’ trust in us, and help us give them the competitive
edge they need to succeed. We see a significant opportunity to profitably grow our existing
business plus develop new business, and by taking direct control of sales and distribution, we hope
to exploit this.”
March 10, 2009
