Formerra Appoints Tom Kelly as Chief Executive Officer

Kelly brings over 30 years of specialty and engineered materials experience to the leading distributor.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Formerra, LLC, a leading distributor of engineered thermoplastic resins, additives, elastomers, and other specialty materials, has announced the appointment of Tom Kelly as its new Chief Executive Officer. Kelly, a seasoned executive with extensive commercial, supply chain, and distribution experience in the engineered materials sector, will succeed the outgoing CEO Cathy Dodd, who will remain as a Special Advisor to the Board.

Why it matters

Formerra is a key player in the engineered materials distribution market, serving leading blue-chip customers and suppliers. Kelly's appointment is expected to build on the company's strengths and accelerate its capabilities in new geographies and adjacent materials, further strengthening Formerra's competitive position globally.

The details

Tom Kelly brings a strong blend of leadership, industry insight, and supply-chain expertise to his new role as CEO of Formerra. After previous roles at Cabot Microelectronics and Chemtura, Kelly's most recent position was as Senior Vice President of Engineered Materials at Celanese, where he led key commercial and operational initiatives across engineered polymers and specialty segments.

  • Formerra announced Kelly's appointment on March 4, 2026.

The players

Tom Kelly

The new Chief Executive Officer of Formerra, LLC, a leading distributor of engineered thermoplastic resins, additives, elastomers, and other specialty materials.

Cathy Dodd

The outgoing CEO of Formerra, LLC, who will remain as a Special Advisor to the Board and an investor in the company.

Formerra, LLC

A leading distributor of engineered thermoplastic resins, additives, elastomers, and other specialty materials, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“Formerra has built a tremendous reputation as a technical selling organization and for putting customers first, supported by exceptional people and supplier partners in the engineered materials ecosystem. I'm excited about the opportunity to build on its strengths and accelerate capabilities in new geographies and adjacent materials. We will continue investing in our people, distribution network, and in our product line card to strengthen Formerra's competitive position globally.”

— Tom Kelly, Chief Executive Officer

The takeaway

Formerra's appointment of Tom Kelly as its new CEO signals the company's commitment to driving differentiated growth and building a high-performing organization in the engineered materials distribution market. Kelly's extensive experience and industry expertise are expected to help Formerra strengthen its competitive position and expand its capabilities globally.