Tom van Aken has been the CEO of Avantium since 2005, an innovative chemical technology company focused on sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil-based plastics. He began his career at DSM, where he held various commercial roles between 1996 and 2002, both in the Netherlands and the United States. In 2002, he joined Avantium as Vice President of Business Development. He was then appointed Vice President of Global Marketing & Sales in 2004 and became part of the management team. At the end of 2005, he was named CEO. Under his leadership, Avantium has transformed into a leading company in renewable polymers. Avantium is the first company in the world to produce FDCA and PEF on a commercial scale. FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) is the key building block for PEF (polyethylene furanoate), a plant-based, recyclable polymer marketed under the brand name releaf®. Releaf® is a groundbreaking alternative to petroleum-based plastics, with applications in bottles, packaging, films, and textiles.
Tom van Aken holds a master’s degree in chemistry from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.