Dr. Alex Valcke will be joining Arch Chemicals (NYSE: ARJ) as Vice President, Innovation, effective November 1, 2009 and reporting to Arch Chairman, President and CEO Michael E. Campbell. In this capacity, he will work closely with Arch's senior management team and its businesses to ensure that Arch is pursuing and investing in the best R&D efforts that support the Company's business strategies. In addition, he will identify and drive cross-business as well as external technology opportunities (see also Arch Chemicals, Inc.).

Dr. Valcke comes to Arch after a 25-year career at Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies), where he most recently held the position of General Manager, Preservation and Material Protection Division. During his career at Janssen, he gained valuable experience as a business leader, managed key divestments and acquisitions for the division, and led a successful effort to significantly expand the company's new product portfolio. He is also an inventor and co-inventor for several patents in the field of material protection biocides and has extensive experience in technology licensing.

"Alex Valcke brings to Arch the creative drive, the technology depth and the business breadth that will help lead us to the next level of innovation and growth," said Mr. Campbell. "His extensive background and experience in microbiology, new product development and wood technology is perfectly suited for Arch's core biocides portfolio."

Dr. Valcke graduated from the University of Ghent in Belgium with a specialty focus in microbiology, forestry engineering and wood technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Bio-engineering sciences from the University of Ghent and obtained an additional Management Education from the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. Among his many professional associations and accomplishments, he held senior-level positions at the International Research Group on Wood Preservation, where he became the first person from industry to be elected president.

Located in Antwerp, Belgium, Dr. Valcke will spend a substantial part of his time in the United States and at Arch technology centers and other locations around the globe.

Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut (USA), Arch Chemicals, Inc. is a global biocides company with approximately $1.5 billion in annual sales. Arch and its subsidiaries provide innovative, chemistry-based solutions to control the growth of harmful microbes. The Company's concentration is in water treatment, hair and skin care products, treated wood, preservation and protection applications such as for paints and building products, and health and hygiene applications. Arch Chemicals operates in two segments: Treatment Products and Performance Products. Together with its subsidiaries, Arch has approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and manufacturing and customer-support facilities in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. For more information, visit www.archchemicals.com.

<<Biotech Week via NewsRx.com -- 11/06/2009>>