Don Becker has joined Paar Physica USA, a supplier of rheological and viscometric test instruments, as director of Sales and Marketing.

David P. Chapman has joined Pro Guard Coatings, Denver, PA, as Technical director, with responsibility for technical activities for existing and new-product development involving high-performance flooring, roofing, maintenance and general industrial products. Chapman has more than 30 years of experience in the coatings industry, the company said.

The recently consolidated Chemicals and Polymers organization of Lyondell Chemical Co. and Equistar Chemicals L.P. has named Russell T. Crockett Jr. vice president, Chemical Sales-Americas and J. Vaughn Deasy vice president-Polymer Sales for Equistar.

Ashland Distribution Co.'s Industrial Chemicals & Solvents Division has named Darryl A. Deaton Business manager, with responsibility for management of the division's business in the Columbus, OH, Cleveland and Pittsburgh markets.

Samuel Cabot Inc. has named Joseph Fahy to head the company's newly formed Cabot Interior Division as manager of Interior Wood Care Business. Fahy will spearhead the company's growth program for interior wood-finishing products.

Raabe Corp. has named Kimberly Hein Marketing manager, with responsibility for marketing, advertising and public-relations activities for the company's color-match and custom-filling markets.

Greg Jehlik has joined CFC International Inc., a manufacturer of holographics and specialty functional coatings, as president and chief operating officer. He succeeds Richard Garthwaite, who left the company to pursue other business opportunities.

Joe Lipiec has joined Focus Chemical Corp. as Midwest Regional manager. The company said Lipiec has held sales and marketing-management positions with Witco Corp., Air Products and Chemicals Inc. and BF Goodrich Co.

Peter Ludwig, executive vice president and general manager of Sun Chemical Corp.'s Colors Group, announced plans to retire July 1 after 40 years with Sun Chemical. Robert Walsh, senior vice president and chief administrative officer for the Colors Group, was named senior vice president and chief operating officer of the business. Ludwig joined the company in 1964 as a trainee and was named vice president and general manager, Pigments International, in 1988, senior vice president in 1995, and senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Colors Group in 1997. He was appointed to his current position in 2000. Walsh joined Sun Chemical in 1972 as a financial analyst in the Pigments Division, and was named vice president and general manager of Pigments International in 1997 and senior vice president in 2001.

Ashland Specialty Chemical Co. has named Paula L. Schaefer Area manager for the Eastern District of the Drew Industrial Division Chemical Additives Group. Schaefer's responsibilities include sales of specialty additives in the East Coast region, with a focus on the coatings, adhesives and other markets.