COLUMBIA, Md., April 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) today announced the appointment of Sandra Wisniewski as President, Grace Materials Technologies, the business segment which produces and sells specialty materials, including silica-based and silica-alumina-based materials used in coatings, consumer, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications. The $400 million segment achieved record volumes and gross margins in 2016.

Wisniewski comes to Grace from SunTech Medical, where she was President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, she served as a General Manager and Vice President at Sanofi, a global healthcare technology company. Sandra spent most of her career with Baxter International in various roles, including general management, sales, marketing, R&D, global project management, manufacturing, and operations. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA in Marketing, Finance, and Business Strategy from Northwestern University.

“Sandra has a strong record of success growing the businesses she has run,” said Grace President and Chief Operating Officer Hudson La Force. “Her strengths as a leader and experiences in sophisticated global industries align well with our growth opportunities in Materials Technologies.”

Wisniewski’s appointment rounds out the leadership team for Grace’s three businesses. Thomas Petti is President of Refining Technologies and Albert J. Beninati, Jr. is President of Specialty Catalysts. Grace reports results for Refining Technologies and Specialty Catalysts under its Catalysts Technologies segment.

About Grace

Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customer partners around the world. With approximately 3,700 employees, Grace operates and/or sells to customers in over 60 countries. More information about Grace is available at grace.com.