3M, St. Paul Minn., appointed Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur as its senior vice president of research and development, and chief technology officer following the retirement of Dr. Frederick J. Palensky, who had a 37-year career with 3M.
“Ashish is a highly accomplished and respected leader with a proven track record of success across multiple 3M businesses and geographic regions,” said Inge G. Thulin, 3M’s chairman, president and CEO.
A native of India, Khandpur earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering with a specialty in polymers from the University of Minnesota. He joined 3M’s adhesive technology center in 1995. He spent time in the central research laboratories, office supplies division laboratory before returning to India to launch 3M’s first laboratory there. He then served as the technical director of 3M’s industrial and transportation business in Asia Pacific, vice president of research and development for the worldwide industrial and transportation business, and most recently, vice president and general manager for 3M’s personal safety division.
“As our chief technology officer, his global experience is a huge asset, and I am confident that he will lead our research and development teams to even greater success in the future,” Thulin said.
For more information, visit www.3m.com.