Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC CEO Peter Cella is retiring Aug. 1, with Executive Vice President (EVP) Mark Lashier, who handles commercial operations, set to succeed him. Among his other accomplishments, Cella “was a guiding influence in advancing the company’s transformational $6 billion U.S. Gulf Coast Petrochemicals Project,” said board member Timothy G. Taylor, president of Phillips 66. Lashier began his career as an engineer with Phillips 66 predecessor company Phillips Petroleum Co., and in 2000 he joined Chevron Phillips Chemical as Chevron Corp. and Phillips Petroleum combined their chemical businesses. Lashier holds a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in chemical engineering from Iowa State University. The company also elevated Scott Sharp, senior VP of manufacturing, to EVP, manufacturing. Ron Corn, SVP, projects/supply chain, was named SVP, petrochemicals, while Dave Morgan, SVP, polymers, was named SVP polymers/specialties. SVP Dave Smith who is in charge of petrochemicals, assumes the role of SVP, corporate planning/technology. Specialties VP Jim Becker was named VP, polymers, while VP Jim Telljohann of corporate planning/development will assume a commercial role as vice president, specialties.