WILMINGTON, DE – With an increased focus on driving innovation, Ashland Inc. announced that Dr. Osama Musa, Vice President, Global Research and Development (R&D), has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer. He also assumes leadership responsibility for Advanced Materials.

While leading R&D for Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Musa focused on ingredients and solutions for global consumer and industrial markets with responsibility for the company’s global technology platforms including Molecular and Measurement Science, Process Research, Biofunctionals, Acrylates and Microencapsulation, Upstream Research, and Preservatives and Microbial Technology.

With his appointment to Chief Technology Officer, Musa becomes responsible for the overall coordination of Ashland’s technical resources and will lead the Ashland Technology Council, which will drive technical excellence across the company. He will also lead the Multifunctional Innovation Team, which will further enhance the innovation pipeline, metrics and processes for driving new products faster into the market.

Musa joined Ashland in 2008 when Ashland acquired International Specialty Products. He previously held technical and leadership positions at National Starch/ICI and Henkel. He holds more than 50 U.S. patents and has authored numerous technical publications.

Ashland Inc. provides specialty chemical solutions to customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets that includes coatings.