Ashland names May Shana’a to lead technology and growth strategy for Ashland Specialty Ingredients

09-08-2012: Dr. May Shana’a has been named group vice president, Technology and Growth Strategy, for Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc.. The announcement was made by John E. Panichella, senior vice president, Ashland Inc. and president, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, to whom she will report.

Shana’a will be responsible for leading Ashland Specialty Ingredients’ global research and development (R&D) and applications capabilities, with direct operational responsibility for the unit’s global research and technical centers. In addition, Shana’a will be responsible for business development, including leading the strategic growth plan for the business.

Shana’a most recently served as global vice president, Skin Care and Portfolio Management at Johnson & Johnson, where she also held the role of vice president, R&D, global beauty care. In this role, Shana’a was involved in more than 200 product launches per year targeting the skin, hair and deodorant markets. Prior to Johnson & Johnson, Shana’a spent more than 18 years at Unilever in skin care, laundry and home care in the UK, U.S. and Italy, where she was vice president of R&D home care. In 2002, she received Brandweek’s “Marketer of the Year” award. Shana’a earned her master’s degree in analytical science and her doctorate in chemistry from the University of Hull in the U.K.