People

Jonatas Melo joined Baystar in 2024. Jonatas brings extensive leadership experience across commercial management, business strategy, product management, supply chain, and corporate finance to lead Baystar through a period of rapid growth, as the Company introduces Borstar® technology to North America. Prior to joining Baystar, Jonatas spent 13 years with Borealis in progressively senior roles in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe; most recently as Global Vice President of performance materials, where he led the consumer products and infrastructure industry clusters. Prior to joining Borealis Jonatas worked with ExxonMobil and Cosan in South America. 

Jonatas holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; an MBA (honors) from IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland; and a Certificate in Global Management from INSEAD, Singapore.

Sonia De Greef is a global business leader with extensive experience in the polymer industry. As Vice President at Global Cray Valley, part of TotalEnergies RC Polymers, she oversaw global sales, strategy, business development and P&L. Previously, she led €3 billion in sales as General Manager for Polymers Sales Europe at TotalEnergies. Her career spans leadership roles at TotalEnergies, Elf Atochem, Neste Chemicals, and Ashland Plastics Europe. Sonia holds a Master’s in Chemistry from K.U. Leuven, a Master of Management from Vlekho, and executive certifications from Vlerick and INSEAD. Fluent in four languages, she drives innovation and growth worldwide.

Jari brings a wealth of experience across operations, technology integration, maintenance, research, and development. He has worked in the chemical manufacturing industry since 2006, beginning his career as a Researcher in R&D with Borealis. He worked in several roles with Borealis, including CAPX Investments Technology Development Manager and Borstar Production Manager at the Porvoo, Finland site. Jari moved to Texas in 2018 and became the Production Manager for the Bay 3 Borstar 3G project – to be the largest facility of its kind in the world upon completion. He was named Baystar Operations Director in October 2019.

Jari earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Electrical and Chemical Engineering from Helsinki University and a PhD in Applied Math from the University of Oulu in Finland.

Thomas has over 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, with a strong background in strategic planning and project financing. Prior to joining Baystar, Thomas spent 7 years in the central finance division of TotalEnergies where he was responsible for the upstream project financing in East Africa and Asia Pacific. He was previously posted in five countries and coordinated both domestic and international teams in charge of strategic and financial planning, assessment of future opportunities for acquisitions and developments, and structuring/restructuring organizations.

Thomas holds a Master of Management from ESCP Business School in Paris, a European Master of Science in Management from City, University of London, and a Diplom Kaufman from the Europäische Wirtschaftshochschule in Berlin.

Ray has over three decades of experience in the polyolefin industry, working with leading companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips, and Westlake. Throughout his career, Ray has held positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing, technology, sales, and business operations. He is a seasoned leader with a proven track record in developing sustainable business practices and values the strengths that diversity and collaboration bring to an organization.

Most recently, Ray served as Director of Westlake’s Polyethylene Business in Houston, TX. He holds a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Ray is passionate about promoting STEM education for youth and is the immediate past Chairman of the UMASS College of Engineering Advisory Council.

Kinga has served as General Counsel since February 2020, providing invaluable guidance on all legal, ethics and compliance matters as Baystar increases its facility assets and positions for growth. Kinga has over 25 years of experience advising global energy companies. She was attracted to Baystar based on the company’s values and strategic direction. Prior to joining the leadership team, she served as General Counsel and Joint Company Secretary of Liquefied Natural Gas Limited and Vice President and General Counsel of Pacific Drilling S.A. where she led the company through a NYSE initial public offering. Kinga earned her Bachelor’s (magna cum laude) and Doctor of Jurisprudence degrees from Texas Tech University, and started her career in the Houston offices of international law firms.

François Good

Chairman and Member Representative

SVP Refining & Petrochemicals Africa Middle-East & Asia, SVP Strategy and Growth, TotalEnergies

After joining TotalEnergies in 1997, François Good alternated between positions at industrial platforms and positions in supply and optimization at headquarters in Paris, Berlin and Houston. In 2016, he was appointed Vice President, Supply, Sales & Optimization for the Refining & Base Chemicals Europe Business Unit.

He was named Senior Vice President, Refining & Petrochemicals Orient in 2018 covering Africa Middle-East and Asia and became a member of the Refining & Chemicals Management Committee. In September 2021 his scope expanded and he was also appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy and Growth.

François Good is a graduate of France’s Ecole Polytechnique engineering school and IFPEN School.

Alexander Adotevi

Member Representative

Chief Financial Officer, TotalEnergies

Alexander Adotevi began his career in 1994 at the Intel Corporation in the United Kingdom. He has worked in the UK until 2011, before transitioning to TotalEnergies Nederland NV and holding other various positions globally. Mr. Adotevi has worked in multi-national environments throughout his career, working in Germany, Paris, and The Netherlands. 

He started his employment with TotalEnergies UK Ltd in 2009 as the finance manager, tracking all aspects of the monthly performance reporting process and adhering to the budgeting process. After serving as the finance manager, he became the TotalEnergies Nederland NV finance director. 

During his time in TotalEnergies, Paris (2018-21), Mr. Adotevi served as Vice President of Corporate Finance & Project Finance, Downstream (MS/RC) and oversaw financing of large projects, coordinating the team’s working capital optimization programs, as well as serving as a board member to various initiatives. 

He currently resides in Houston as the Chief Financial Officer for TotalEnergies American Services, Inc. and for TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining. Alexander Adotevi has been in this role since Sept. 2021. 

Mr. Adotevi attended the Universite de Paris II Licence with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1991. 

Reinhard Florey

Member Representative

Chief Financial Officer, OMV Aktiengesellschaft

Reinhard graduated in mechanical engineering and economics from Graz University of Technology while also completing his music studies at the University of Fine Arts. He started his career in corporate consulting and strategy consulting. From 2002 to 2012 he worked in different positions worldwide for Thyssen Krupp Steel. His most recent post was as CFO and deputy CEO of Outukumpu. Since July 1, 2016 Reinhard  has been the CFO of OMV Aktiengesellschaft.

Carine Jessup

Member Representative

Senior Manager-Joint Ventures & New Ventures, TotalEnergies

Bio Coming Soon!

Wolfram Krenn

Thomas Marthinsen

Member Representative

Head of Houston Office, Borealis

Thomas Marthinsen began his career at Borealis in 2003 as part of the shared services finance team in Belgium. Over his 17 year career with Borealis, he has held progressively more senior roles with the company, including Controller at Borealis’ compounding plant in New Jersey, USA Manager in the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) department in Vienna, Austria and Regional Controller for Asia North at Borouge, Borealis’ joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, in Shanghai, China. Thomas currently serves as the Head of Borealis’ Office in Houston, TX and is a management team member of the Joint Venture and Growth Projects business group.

Thomas has a degree in Economics from the University of Toronto, Canada and completed his MBA from Columbia University in New York.

Philippe Roodhooft

Member Representative

Executive Vice President Joint Ventures and Growth Projects, Borealis

Philippe Roodhooft is the Executive Vice President Joint Ventures and Growth Projects for Borealis and was appointed in November 2017.

He first joined Neste Chemicals in 1990 as a project engineer in Beringen, Belgium. After the merger with Statoil he became responsible for plant management in Borealis Kallo and later on in Beringen. He moved to Vienna, Austria in 2007 and since then fulfilled several senior management positions as General Manager for the Central European production sites, Senior Vice President Operations for the Borealis group of companies and Senior Vice President Supply Chain and Product Management for Polyolefins. In 2013 Philippe moved to Borouge ADP in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as Chief Operating Officer.

He holds a Master degree Cum Laude in Applied Science from the “Katholieke Universiteit Leuven”, Belgium with a specialisation in Production Management and Electro Mechanical Engineering. Philippe was born in 1963 and is a Belgian citizen. He is married, has 2 children and lives in Vienna, Austria.

Ernst Wanten

Member Representative 

Vice President Polymers Americas, Refining & Chemicals

Ernst Wanten is currently service as Vice President Polymers Americas at TotalEnergies, where he leads the commercialization and product development of polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) across the Americas.  Prior to this role, he was Vice President Audit Midstream at TotalEnergies' Head Office, overseeing internal audit activities across several major branches globally. His 37 years entailed various positions around the world in downstream activities.