energy leaders
The Victrex oil and gas and alternative energy industry team is passionate about providing innovative solutions that are reliable, productive, and cost effective.
With more than 20 years of energy industry experience, Victrex offers leadership in product and industry application knowledge. We offer a range of products with unique combinations of high performance properties.
The Victrex energy industry team stands ready to provide you with product solutions based on high performance PEEK polymers and value added engineering and support services.
Dr. John Grasmeder
Global Applied Technology Manager
Dr. John Grasmeder is Global Applied Technology Manager at Victrex plc leading the oil and gas application developments for Victrex’s high-performance materials and managing Victrex’s Technology Centres in the UK and China.
Dr. Grasmeder has almost 20 years of experience in polymer materials, compounds, technical service and application development. He has worked in various research and development, applied technology, marketing and business management positions at ICI, BASF and various BASF joint ventures in both the UK and Germany.
Dr. Grasmeder is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Robert Navo
Global Applications Manager for Oil & Gas
Robert Navo is Global Applications Manager for Oil and Gas at Victrex plc. Robert is responsible for generating, managing and delivering new business growth opportunities within the oil and gas industry for the continued growth of VICTREX PEEK in core and emerging technologies.
Robert brings to Victrex a broad understanding of the oil and gas industry. He first spent 14 years (1980 – 1993) with Unocal operating, developing and managing oil and gas fields in both a reservoir and production engineering capacity. He then spent 14 years (1993 - 2006) with Schlumberger working in various sales, business development and marketing roles for the Oilfield Services Well Completions and Productivity Division.
In these capacities, Robert had global responsibility for setting and directing the marketing strategy to promote maximum financial success, formulated and communicated tactical and operational plans, provided input to new product development, and created sales and advertising campaigns.
Dr. Geoff Small
Global Applications Technology Specialist
Dr. Geoff Small is Global Applications Technology Specialist at Victrex plc. He has been with Victrex for nine years in a Market Development role focusing in the past four years on Victrex’s growth in the oil and gas market.
Having studied Materials Science at the University of Bath and obtaining his PhD on the subject of Cellular Composite Structures, Dr. Small has worked in the polymer industry for 23 years. Prior to joining Victrex he worked for The National Physical Laboratory (UK) and for Phillips Petroleum Company in a Market Development role for Engineering Polymers.
Guglielmo (Bill) Pernice
Global Marketing, Americas Oil and Gas Leader
Bill joined Victrex plc in 2004 and is responsible for developing new onshore and offshore applications and market opportunities with key customers.
Bill brings to Victrex comprehensive understanding of the oil and gas industry alongside a polymer engineered background. Bill spent the initial part of his career with Belleli in petrochemical and offshore operations, responsible for national business development. He then continued on to Arkema working in various roles with engineered polymer coatings and melt processed product lines, spending time in product development and project management before being named Global Industrial Market Manager for the PVDF product line.
Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in 1987 and an MBA in International Business in 1990 from the University of Houston as well as a Certificate in Finance and Accounting from Rice Jones Graduate School of Management in 2006.
