José Borges Matias will assume the presidency of the Solvay Group in Latin America starting in April.

The executive José Borges Matias will assume the presidency of the Solvay Group in Latin America starting from April 1st, 2016. He will replace Denise Porcelli, who has decided to leave the Solvay Group to embark on a new phase of her career outside Brazil.

Graduated from ITA - Instituto Tecnológico da Aeronáutica - and with a master's degree in Marketing from the University of São Paulo, José Matias began his career as a trainee at Rhodia in Brazil in 1983. He held various positions in production and investment administration at the company in Brazil and France until 1991, then worked in Marketing and Sales in the Polyester and Polyamide divisions.

In 2002, he was appointed Vice President in Latin America for Purchasing and Services. In 2006, he became Vice President of Procurement, Energy, and Government Relations for Rhodia Latin America. From 2008, he became the Vice President worldwide for Purchasing.

With the acquisition of Rhodia by the Solvay Group in September 2011, José Matias was confirmed in the position of Worldwide VP for Purchasing and Supply Chain, with the responsibility of managing purchases amounting to eight billion euros.

In 2014, back in Brazil, he took on the position of Worldwide President of the Coatis Business Unit of the Solvay Group, which operates in two major areas: Phenol and Derivatives, and Oxygenated Solvents. This Unit, whose administration will continue under José Matias's leadership, is one of the two global business areas of the group directed from Brazil.