COMINES, France - Holliday Pigments’ Directeur Général, Christian Duhayon, has been recognized by a French parliamentary figure serving Comines, North France, where the company’s manufacturing facility is located.
The site has been producing technical ultramarine pigments since 1926, and Duhayon has played a vital role in its evolution throughout the 21st Century. Following his initial appointment as Technical Director in 1973, he was made Directeur Général 21 years later and has been a driving force in many of the improvements made to the plant in recent times.
Duhayon’s recommendation for an exceptional distinction in the region’s annual National Assembly Medal awards program is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Comines community and comes as Duhayon embarks on semi-retirement.
“I feel extremely honored to receive this prestigious award and have been proud to be a part of Holliday Pigments’ history for all these years,” said Duhayon. “Recognition must be given to my colleagues for not only making my time here so enjoyable but for their equally commendable contributions to the company and its regional importance. I look forward to observing Holliday Pigments’ continuing success in the very capable hands of the current management team.”
Christian was presented his award by French Deputy Marc-Philippe Daubresse, who became the Ministre de la Jeunesse et des Solidarités Actives (the French Minister for Youth Affairs) in March 2010. Daubresse has long taken an active interest in the company’s activities and attended the opening of Holliday Pigments’ effluent treatment plant (ETP) in August 2009. The latest in a long line of initiatives to improve the factory’s environmental credentials, the ETP is capable of treating up to 800m3 of water per day and is believed to be the most advanced solution available for heavy industries, such as chemical engineering. It followed the implementation of a flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) plant in 2004. As a result of these measures, Holliday Pigments’ Comines site is now the largest ultramarine manufacturing facility to comply with all European environmental laws.