Benjamin Moore & Co. announced that Robert S. (Bob) Merritt was named Chief Executive Officer and President, replacing Denis Abrams, who was dismissed after leading the company for seven years.

Jotun Paints has launched Colour Trends Volume III 2012, a color palette created by Jotun Colour Ambassadors, a group of design professionals from the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, that is customized to suit homes in the Middle East.

Morse has created a new video that demonstrates the unique load-testing standards at the company.

BASF’s Coatings group recently inaugurated its Paint Application Center and an extension of its Development Laboratory at the company’s production site in Tultitlán, Mexico.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has recognized OMNOVA Solutions’ Global Technology Center in Akron, OH, and specialty chemicals facilities in Green Bay, WI, Fitchburg, MA, and Calhoun, GA, with Certificates of Excellence for their safety achievements in 2011.

Employees of VersaFlex Inc., Kansas City, MO, participated in the development of a new Underwriters Laboratory of Canada standard.

The HallStar Co., Chicago, has acquired the TP-series product line of specialty plasticizers from The Dow Chemical Co. (Dow), Midland, MI.

Chromaflo Technologies, an independent global supplier of advanced colorants and chemical dispersions for the paint, coatings and thermoset plastics industry, has made two new personnel appointments.

Orion Engineered Carbons announced that Jörg Krüger will join the company as Senior Vice President of Global Operations effective September 1, 2012.

The Supervisory Board of the specialty chemicals Group ALTANA AG has elected Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Schmieder to be the company’s new Chairman.