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Sal is leader and specialist in Industry with OEM’s and Supply base. He has extensive experience in business management and in delivering value through complexity reduction. Sal was one of the pioneers of six sigma in industry deployment. He has led several supplier development programs for automotive and industrial clients.

He has strong capability in the field of operational excellence, supplier management, complexity reduction and problem solving. Implemented Supplier Improvement Program with automotive manufacturers (OEMs). Implemented product cost reduction using complexity management tools with European based Fortune 100 industrial manufacturers.

Sal did his B.Sc. (Hons) Industrial Engineering from UK and Advanced Management Program at INSEAD.

Barry brings nearly 40 years of expertise in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, safety, and operations within the specialty chemical industry. He spent 24 years at Rohm and Haas/Dow, where he held various leadership roles in manufacturing and supply chain. Ultimately, he became the Global Operations Director for Rohm and Haas’s largest business segment, Paint and Coatings Materials, overseeing more than 30 global manufacturing facilities and their integrated supply chains.

In 2012, Barry joined FMC as Vice President of Operations, assuming responsibility for all global manufacturing, supply chain, safety, and remediation activities. During his tenure, he achieved a remarkable 90% reduction in FMC’s injury rate between 2012 and 2023. His approach and results garnered five ACC Company of the Year awards, a testament to his leadership and commitment to safety. Barry retired at the end of 2024 after serving as Vice President of Transformation for a year.

Barry resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and taking long walks with his wife and dog.

Chet Cross is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry, including 15 years at the C-suite and Board level. He has a proven track record of driving strategic turnarounds, operational excellence, and global growth. Chet most recently served as Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Operations at Chemtura Corporation, where he led a comprehensive $100M cost reduction initiative through the reorganization of procurement and manufacturing operations. He also spearheaded the company’s Operational Excellence program, driving efficiency and effectiveness across the organization.

Previously, Chet was Executive Vice President of Engineered and Performance Industrial Products at Chemtura, where he held full P&L responsibility for a $1.7 billion portfolio. In this role, he played a key part in reshaping the business, crafting a strategic exit plan for the company. Prior to his time at Chemtura, Chet spent over 20 years at Hercules/Ashland in various leadership roles, further honing his expertise in driving sales and margin growth.

Beyond his corporate experience, Chet has served as a Strategic Partner and Board member for private equity firms within the specialty chemicals sector. Known for his collaborative yet decisive leadership style, he excels at building high-performing teams and navigating complex challenges.
Chet is a retired US Army officer and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He currently resides in Virginia, where he enjoys boating, hunting, and fishing.

An executive with 40 years of Global Experience in the Chemical and Polymer Industry, Demetri is a passionate and innovative leader that makes things happen. Has established reputation and proven record in transforming Operations through innovative, strategic mindset and ability to create High Performance Teams that drive excellence with the latest Digital and AI Technologies. Passionate about Safety as License to Operate, has developed and set the standards for Operational Excellence that is key to Efficiency and Sustainability.

Demetri, recently retired as EVP, Head of Operation in North America Operations and President of the Global PO JV (Lyondell) assets. Responsible for North America Assets ($7Billion RV) he managed a $3B Operating budget and about 2,000 employees. Established digital infrastructure as part of an Operational Excellence program geared towards Operational excellence with a high-performance organization. Engaged in local, State and federal affairs for Permitting, lobbying and Product stewardship. He developed a strategy for Scope 1 / 2 reductions and worked with a Partner for the first approved (DOE) Carbon Capture program at the Texas Site. He served as a Covestro LLC board member and is a member of the U.S. Country Council.

Demetri joined Bayer in 1983 as a Process Research engineer. He held various positions of increasing responsibility within Research and Development before moving to Bayer’s Central Engineering group. Following the Bayer reorganization in 2002, Demetri gained responsibility for global toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) production. Beginning in 2010, he chaired the Health, Safety, Environment, Quality (HSEQ) Community Council for Bayer Americas and served as the safety and sustainability officer for Bayer Corporation. Before his current role, Demetri was the SVP of global Polyurethane joint ventures and Propylene Oxide/Polyether (PET) sites at Covestro LLC. He was also responsible for Innovation and Procurement for the Americas region.

Demetri served in various community boards. He was a proud board member for over 6 years of The Pittsburgh Promise, a successful NGO that promotes high educational aspirations among urban youth, funds scholarships for post-secondary access, and fuels a prepared and diverse regional workforce.

Demetri holds a bachelor's degree in chemical and petroleum engineering and a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.

Alan brings over 30 years of expertise in direct sales and marketing, with a proven track record in both hands-on and client-facing leadership roles. His experience spans a range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, private equity, and management consulting, where he has driven operational improvements, procurement strategies, and revenue growth for both B2B and B2C clients.

Specializing in territory management and sales leadership, Alan has a strong ability to source tailored solutions that optimize operational efficiency and deliver tangible results. His deep understanding of customer-facing teams, equipment sales, and retail leadership enables him to connect with all levels of an organization and drive success from the ground up.

Alan holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance, further enhancing his strategic insight and business acumen.

Andy Scritchfield is the Director of Business Development at X/Celerant, where he plays a crucial role in driving client engagement and fostering strategic partnerships. With over 15 years of experience in business development, Andy is instrumental in identifying opportunities, expanding relationships, and delivering value to X/Celerant’s clients. He joined the firm in October 2023 and, within a short time, was recognized with the XCC Rising Star award for his outstanding contributions.

Before joining X/Celerant, Andy served as an Inside Sales Manager at Siemens Advanta Consulting, where he was deeply involved in the firm's business development efforts.

Based in Canton, Ohio, Andy blends his broad professional experiences to support X/Celerant’s mission of delivering innovative, client-focused solutions across various industries.

Outside of work, Andy and his wife, Jess, are proud parents of two children. The family leads an active lifestyle, enjoying a shared passion for water sports and golfing. Additionally, Andy dedicates his time to coaching baseball, where he has the opportunity to pass on his love for the game and mentor young athletes in his community.

David has spent close to 30 years in the consulting industry. In the early days of his career he specialized in analyzing operational and business performance, identifying opportunities and designing change programs to deliver sustainable improvements for large clients in most sectors across the globe. He spent most of his consulting life based in the United States having relocated there with his family from the U.K. to set up Celerant Consulting’s growth in the U.S.

David was President of Celerant Americas and then Global COO before joining Schlumberger Business Consulting and later MTG as CEO. He completed the sale of MTG to Worley Parsons in 2014. Since then he became Chairman of X/Celerant.

Jonathan Leahey, Senior Vice President of Chemicals at X/Celerant, drives client-first partnerships within the chemical, agrochemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and consumer product sectors. With nearly three decades of global experience, he delivers sustainable supply chain and operational transformations for Fortune 500 leaders.

Jonathan has served as a trusted advisor to major chemical companies, including 3M, Aristech Acrylics, Abbott, W.R. Grace, and others in delivering lasting business results in Rapid Lean Restructure, Experimental Design, Quality Assurance and Control, Safety, Production Planning Improvement, and Procurement Strategy.

Based in Sisters, Oregon, Jonathan balances professional rigor with a passion for the outdoors, including backcountry gravel bikepacking, cross-country skiing, and scuba diving. He holds a J.D. with honors from the University of Iowa, a B.A., summa cum laude, from Washburn University, and contributes as faculty at Baker University's MBA program.

As a Director of Operations at X/Celerant, Tom Burke oversees client project implementation across multiple functions and locations.

Tom brings over 30 years of experience in consulting and industry. He has led implementations across the US and Canada in manufacturing, mining, and oil & gas. Most recently he led the implementation of flexible manufacturing systems for an extruder of engineered plastics. Previously, while employed by a global chemical company, he led the standardization of performance metrics and management systems across three continents. While employed by a global HVAC business, he led the launch of Lean Manufacturing implementation at sites in North and South America. Prior to that, he led the startup and operation of a welfare reform project for a major US city government.

Tom lives in Dallas, Texas, where he enjoys travel, hiking with his dogs, and cooking (and eating). He holds an MBA from Yale, and a BA in Government from Saint Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

As Delivery Director Jay leads programs across multiple sites with several teams focusing on Maintenance, Reliability and Operations.

During his 35 years in industry, Jay delivered maintenance and reliability projects in the US, Asia, Brazil and Europe. He also led global productivity and capital engineering teams. Jay has been with X/Celerant for over 7 years. During that time, he has specialized in Maintenance and Reliability program installations with an additional focus on ERP (SAP) integration. Other client support has included Production optimization
and Quality management system.

Jay lives in California, where he enjoys fishing, boating, camping and woodcarving. He graduated from the University of California at Davis with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

Richard started his Operations Consulting career with Celerant Consulting over 25 years ago in the UK. He was one of the founding members that launched the Celerant Consulting business in the Americas in 1996. During that time Richard has focused on leading complex global business transformations for leading global organizations in the Chemicals, Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Consumer Products sectors. His core capabilities are in Operational Excellence, Integrated Supply Chain, complex business change programs and results based strategic transformations. He was Head of Operations for Celerant Americas and Hitachi Operations Consulting before being one of the core founders of X/Celerant in 2016 as the CEO.

Richard graduated with a BEng in Manufacturing Engineering with Management & Business Studies from Brunel University in London. Prior to consulting, Richard worked in the Automotive industry in the UK for a tier 1 supplier to Land Rover and Honda, where he was schooled in Lean Manufacturing. He also completed Advanced Management Programs at INSEAD in France and Stanford University in California.

Atul completed his Bachelors of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University with a double major in Management Information Systems and Marketing. He later completed his Master’s of Business Administration from Thunderbird University with a focus on International Business. Atul has over 20 years of consulting experience. During this time, he has led change management projects focused on streamlining core business processes and systems as well as influencing behavior change to realize sustainable financial results for his clients.

His experience spans a wide range of industries including Manufacturing, Construction, Telecom, Mining & Healthcare. His experience in delivering sustainable financial results have come from his expertise in Business Performance Management, OEE, Maintenance Effectiveness, Behavior Change, Capital Management (Prioritization, Deployment & Execution), and EPC Management.

Rajeev has an extensive track record of creating value through implementation of transformational change programs. He works closely with client’s to develop the vision, create and lead well calibrated solutions. He successfully engages clients at all levels, to focus on change and results.

He mentors and coaches teams to become high performing. He has led global and complex projects, including on Strategy & Operations, M&A, Operational Excellence, Organizational Restructuring and Asset Management; ensuring excellence. His industry expertise includes Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial, Mining, Oil & Gas, Private Equity (PE), Utilities.

Rajeev has an MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario in London, ON. Canada and a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Delhi in India. Rajeev is based out of Toronto, Canada.

Susan currently holds the title of Chief Human Resources Officer for X/Celerant Consulting. She oversees recruiting and HR operations, where she is passionate about developing an exceptional talent pool and fostering strong relationships based on X/Celerant’s core values.

Susan spent a decade working in analytical laboratories at Savannah Laboratories and Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation, where she also earned her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL, and a Master of Business Administration in Operations Management from the University of West Florida. She began her consulting career with legacy Celerant Consulting and brings over 20 years of experience in operations management consulting, specializing in the Manufacturing and Chemicals industries. With a focus on program management and results delivery, she still thrives on collaborating with senior executives at global firms to design and implement initiatives that drive operational excellence.

A lifelong resident of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Susan enjoys being outdoors at the beach, hiking and nurturing her flower gardens. In her free time, she loves being with her husband, two grown sons and her dogs.

With over 20 years of experience in professional services, Marcos has built a reputation for designing and implementing results-driven operating strategies across North America, LatAm, and Europe, primarily within the Industrials sector. His deep analytical expertise and ability to uncover operational potential have made him a trusted advisor to businesses seeking transformative improvements. Marcos began his consulting career at Celerant Consulting, focusing on Analysis Management, and has led numerous engagements, leveraging technical, financial, and organizational insights to drive significant value creation.

Before rejoining the X/Celerant team, Marcos was a Partner and Due Diligence Practice Lead at the Beckway Group, where he specialized in identifying and quantifying value creation opportunities for private equity clients in pre-acquisition deals. He holds an MBA from New York University, an MA in Economics, and a BA in Economics and Mathematics, both from Boston University. Marcos remains dedicated to delivering innovative, data-driven solutions that ensure sustainable results for his clients.

As the Vice President of Operations at X/Celerant, Jeff guides his team with a straightforward, results-focused approach that puts project quality, client satisfaction, and creative problem-solving front and center. By fostering a high-trust environment rooted in integrity and respect, Jeff encourages open collaboration and the free flow of ideas - critical elements for ongoing improvement and creativity. Jeff works alongside cross-functional teams to achieve tangible, lasting improvements in efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Ultimately, his mission is to ensure that every initiative honors X/Celerant’s promise of delivering exceptional value to its clients.

Over the course of more than two decades in operations and project management, Jeff worked within industry leading firms such as Wal-Mart and Chevron in both logistics and project controls. From orchestrating large-scale supply chain enhancements to nurturing high-performance teams, he is focused on practical strategies that deliver measurable outcomes. Recognizing the need to stay adaptable and forward-thinking, Jeff completed the Executive MBA – Strategic Leadership program at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business. This immersive curriculum not only solidified his grasp of core business functions (finance, technology, human capital management, and beyond), but also sharpened his skills in fostering collaboration, agile leadership, and transformational change. His breadth of experience, complemented by these advanced studies, gives Jeff a clear perspective on what truly
drives sustainable growth for modern organizations.

Outside the office, Jeff is an avid traveler who enjoys the chance to immerse himself in diverse cultures. He is equally enthusiastic about scuba diving, frequently takes on 5K runs, and keeps a close eye on MMA events. These pursuits help him recharge and bring a fresh sense of energy to his work. By staying curious and active, Jeff approaches each new challenge, professional or personal, as an opportunity to learn, grow, and share that positive momentum with those around him.

Melissa Hadhazy is a strategic leader with a diverse background spanning architecture, industrial operations, and global consulting. She specializes in business transformation, market expansion, and operational excellence, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex challenges.

Building on her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Melissa works with business leaders to drive strategy, optimize operations, and enhance talent effectiveness. She applies her expertise in Lean/Six Sigma, large-scale project integration, and manufacturing strategy to create efficiencies and unlock growth opportunities. Her experience across industries allows her to take a holistic approach to solving challenges and navigating change.

With a strong belief that people are the key to sustainable success, Melissa combines data-driven decision-making with a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. She is passionate about driving growth, navigating change, and helping organizations unlock new opportunities for lasting impact.

A highly experienced executive and an aerospace engineer by trade, Miklos has more than 25 years’ experience designing and leading dozens of successful engagements in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. He has worked with 200+ clients across multiple industries including construction, aerospace, financial services, insurance, chemicals, telecom, engineering, electronics, pharmaceuticals, transportation, consumer and banking delivering in excess of $2B in EBITDA improvements.

Miklos’ ability to identify and understand the business needs of clients, alliances and partners and offer practical, effective solutions has resulted in significant accomplishments in Entrepreneurial, PE, Fortune 1000 and Non-Profit organizations. In recent years, he has been providing core business advisory services in strategic sourcing & category management, supply chain management, maintenance strategy & reliability, logistics optimization, manufacturing capacity alignment, product development, financial cost management, business operations, sales operations, economic advisory and management consulting to multiple industries with a focus on execution. Miklos has an MBA from Boston University and a BSc in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech

Atul completed his Bachelors of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University with a double major in Management Information Systems and Marketing. He later completed his Master’s of Business Administration from Thunderbird University with a focus on International Business. Atul has over 20 years of consulting experience. During this time, he has led change management projects focused on streamlining core business processes and systems as well as influencing behavior change to realize sustainable financial results for his clients.

His experience spans a wide range of industries including Manufacturing, Construction, Telecom, Mining & Healthcare. His experience in delivering sustainable financial results have come from his expertise in Business Performance Management, OEE, Maintenance Effectiveness, Behavior Change, Capital Management (Prioritization, Deployment & Execution), and EPC Management.