Gelest Names Gayer CEO

Gelest, Inc.: tapped Ken Gayer as chief executive officer. He brings more than 20 years of global chemical industry leadership experience to his new role at Gelest.


Most recently, Gayer served as business president of Honeywell Specialty Products of Honeywell International. Prior to his latest role, he had a long tenure at Honeywell in a variety of leadership positions including vice president and general manager at Honeywell Fluorine Products; vice president of procurement, customer service, trade compliance, transportation and logistics; and global business director of foam and industrial products.


Prior to Honeywell, Gayer held leadership roles at McKinsey & Company and the Polaroid Corporation, and served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Nuclear Submarine Force.


Barry Arkles, who founded Gelest in 1991, will remain with Gelest as chief technology officer and as chairman of the board.


In other news, Daria Carlin Long has joined Gelest, Inc. to lead its personal care business. Reporting to Ed Kimble, VP-product management, Long is responsible for all aspects of the personal care business, including marketing, sales, and product and distribution-channel management. She brings more than 20 years of experience in specialty chemicals, with a focus on developing business relationships, marketing and account management in personal care products. She has held varying senior management, marketing, sales management and business development roles, most recently at IFF/Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Inolex, 3V and Botaneco and Rhodia.