Monument Team,  

I am excited to share that Sibel Selcuk, currently VP, Global R&D and Strategy, Monument Chemical, will soon return to The Heritage Group (THG) as Executive Vice President, Heritage Research Group (HRG). The full announcement from Amy Schumacher (THG CEO) is available here with additional details about Sibel’s new role.

This is wonderful news for HRG, who will gain an amazing leader – and for Sibel, whose already remarkable career is a testament to her intellect, scientific curiosity, and passion for excellence. But it’s bittersweet news for those who’ve had the privilege to work with Sibel since she came to Monument from HRG nearly five years ago. There’s a silver lining, though: Sibel’s new role will keep her connected with Monument R&D. (And we can all be proud to have a Monument “alumnus” at the helm of HRG!)

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Sibel for her countless contributions to Monument. Her leadership has ensured that both R&D and Strategy will conclude a very strong year that included successes with the furfural project, melt crystallizer, A-35 resin, and foam work, and the advancement of our efforts around innovation, M&A, and sustainability. These recent accomplishments cap off a Monument tenure during which Sibel significantly developed and enhanced the Strategy function and drove positive change in R&D.

Although we will miss Sibel, she leaves us the hands of a very capable R&D and Strategy team who have enjoyed the benefit of her leadership and mentoring. While we search for a successor to Sibel’s role, I will serve as Strategy team lead, and Sibel and I will work with the R&D directors to maintain our momentum on key projects and innovation overall.

Sibel’s new role continues the remarkable life journey she began almost 25 years ago, when she set out from her native Turkey to earn her PhD at LSU. She embarked on that 6400-mile trip with $500 to her name and no U.S. connections except her LSU advisor. On the way, she had the help of many fellow travelers — and she made a connection in an airport that would lead her to Indiana and eventually to THG and Monument. We are very fortunate to have benefited from that twist of fate — and look forward to seeing Sibel accomplish many more great things as her journey continues.

Please join me in thanking Sibel for her incredible passion and leadership – and in wishing her much success with HRG!

Paul