Leadership Team

Marco Mensink is Director General of Cefic, the European chemical industry council, since May 2016.Mr. Mensink shapes the strategy and direction of the European chemical industry, uniting more than 22 national federations, 9 associate federations and 650 members and affiliates from all over Europe.

A Dutch national, he is a seasoned public affairs professional, who has lived and worked in Brussels since 2006. He has an extensive network of contacts within European institutions and the wider Brussels sphere, and is active in several European Commission High Level Groups. 

Starting his career at Ernst & Young Management Consulting, he worked for six years in environmental management  and due diligence projects. He then worked for six years at the Royal Netherlands’ Paper and Board Association, also representing the Dutch industry in Brussels. Marco Mensink holds a Master of Science Degree in Forestry and Business Management from the Agricultural University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. Born in 1968, he is married and has three children.

Follow Marco on LinkedIn

With a longstanding manufacturing background that started 20 years ago with LyondellBasell and predecessor companies, William is an experienced director with a wide range of managerial abilities from managing large size manufacturing sites to leading corporate staff organisation.

Before joining Cefic, William was Staff Director in charge of Global Operational Excellence with LyondellBasell (LBI), leading the manufacturing management processes integration and auditing initiative. Former assignments include various manufacturing management positions as Site Director of one of the LBI manufacturing facilities located in Europoort-The Netherlands (450 employees and permanent contractors), as Member of the Board of Directors of LCNBV (Lyondell Dutch entity), and as Lead Operational Excellence Auditor (Lyondell HQ in Houston, Texas) in charge of the new business operational excellence integration effort.

Earlier career history with LyondellBasell includes proven reviews in due diligence, M&A. Former responsibilities also include Site HSE Manager, EPC/start-up and Operation Manager.

William received his degree in mechanical and civil engineering from the Ecole des Mines (Ales-France). He is fluent in French and English.

Follow William on LinkedIn

Florie Gonsolin, joined Cefic in January 2017 as a Climate Change and Energy Manager and successively, as Director of Industrial Transformation Projects. She coordinates Cefic’s participation into the EU Chemical Industry Transformation Pathway and manages ad-hoc projects on industrial transformation for the Cefic Board.

Prior to joining Cefic, Florie worked for the transport fuels sector focusing on climate and energy policy. She also gained experience in the European Parliament, working for two MEPs.

Florie is graduated International politics, law and economics (specialised in European politics) as well as business administration.

Follow Florie on LinkedIn.

Sylvie Lemoine is a distinguished professional with a robust background in EU regulatory affairs spanning over fifteen years, both in EU trade associations and in chemical companies. As the Executive Director of Product Stewardship at Cefic since 2019, she has been instrumental in driving initiatives on the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Transitioning her expertise, Sylvie now champions Industrial Policy within the organisation since 2024.

Prior to her tenure at Cefic, Sylvie held a pivotal role as the Director for Technical and Regulatory Affairs at A.I.S.E., the International Association for Soaps, Detergents, and Maintenance products, after which she joined Dow Government Affairs in 2016.

Sylvie Lemoine holds a chemical engineering degree complemented with a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the esteemed Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, France. She commenced her professional career at ExxonMobil Chemical, gaining experience across R&D and market development departments based in Brussels.

Follow Sylvie on LinkedIn.

Camilla Martelli joined Cefic’s Public Affairs team in 2017, focusing on the policy areas of Product Stewardship and Health Safety, Responsible Care and Supply Chain. Camilla is leading the advocacy strategy towards the European Parliament and, since January 2021, she is in charge of the coordination of the advocacy actions undergone by Cefic to responds to the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability agenda. With a university degree in international and European Studies, Camilla worked 7 years in the European Parliament, advising two different Members of the European Parliament. 

Follow Camilla on LinkedIn

Marleen joined Euro Chlor in 2011 becoming Science & Regulatory Affairs Director in 2016. Two years later, she took the role of Executive Director of the Halogens Industry Sector.
During her years at Cefic, Marleen has managed sector groups, human health and regulatory committees and co-led the ‘Bridges & Connections project’, one of the building blocks of Cefic’s ‘Change Strategy’.

In 2021, Marleen set up FPP4EU, Cefic’s Sector Group dealing with FluoroProducts and PFAS.

Marleen obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, with a special focus on regulatory human toxicology and alternatives to animal testing. She gained industry experience as Senior Regulatory Affairs and Toxicology Analyst for Albemarle Europe.  

Follow Marleen on LinkedIn.

Miguel joined Cefic in 2012 as Manager of the “Food Contact Additives” Sector Group. In 2019 he became director of Specialty Chemicals and is currently heading the “Food & feed”- and “Plastic Additives”-clusters.

Miguel is chemist by training and has over 15 years’ experience in industry associations in Brussel dealing with food and chemicals legislation. Prior to that he worked for several years in various R&D projects in Germany.

Follow Miguel on LinkedIn

Nicola was appointed  Executive Director Climate Change and Energy of Cefic in April 2023. Nicola has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs and stakeholder engagement in Brussels. He started his career in Brussels leading a European youth organization promoting European integration. 

Ever since, his path has been linked to climate change and energy topics: among others, Nicola has advised Eurelectric for several years on Environment and Sustainable Development Policy, and then served for over five years as Energy and Climate Director at CEPI, the Confederation of European Paper Industries. 

Nicola joined Cefic in December 2020 as the new Energy Director. In April 2023, he has been appointed Executive Director Climate Change and Energy of Cefic. In his role, Nicola represents the industry’s interests to European institutions, international organisations and relevant stakeholders. 

Nicola has a master’s degree in law from the University of Turin, an advanced master’s in political and social European integration from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and a Master of Laws in energy and environmental law from KU Leuven and successfully completed the Accelerated Management Programme at Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management.

Follow Nicola on LinkedIn

On 1 May, Frans Stokman took up the position of Executive Director of Petrochemicals Europe, an industry sector of Cefic.  Frans has extensive experience in the global oil, gas and petrochemical industry. He worked for over 25 years for Shell, from which he resigned before joining Cefic as a fully employed director.

Throughout his career, he has held a broad range of senior management positions including Global Marketing & Sales Manager (Process Oils, Base Oils & Waxes) in London and The Hague, Director of Shell Lubricants Supply Co., Business Manager of the Gas To Liquids contracts on the JV between Shell Global Lubricants and Qatar Petroleum (QP) etc. He has global experience in the fields of chemicals, lubricants, base oils, GTL, gas, (F)LNG and has worked in all regions around the globe besides the EU notably the US, Middle-East and Far-East and lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Frans is particularly experienced in helping companies or businesses manage change, transition or overcome a crisis. He was appointed Shell Policy & Commercial Manager Earthquake Damages when the Dutch province of Groningen was hit by earthquakes due to gas production. He coordinated and executed the payment of damage claims. He developed and established policies and protocols and acted regularly as the company’s spokesperson in the media. These activities have been handed over to the Dutch State.

Follow Frans on LinkedIn.

Liesbeth Timmermans joined Cefic in 2013 as environmental lawyer and became Legal Director in 2019 and Executive Director in 2023 heading the legal team.

Prior to joining Cefic, she worked as associate in a Brussels-based law firm where she specialized in EU regulatory, advising businesses in the food and feed sector.

Liesbeth holds a master degree in European law from the University of Rennes I, France, and the diploma of Sciences-Po Aix-en-Provence.

She has the Belgian and French nationality, and speaks French, Dutch, English and Spanish.

Follow Liesbeth on LinkedIn.

Steven brings more than 20 years’ experience in environmental and chemical policy. Steven joined Cefic in 2015 working in regulatory risk management of chemicals, REACH processes and value chain outreach.

Prior to Cefic, he worked as a consultant and policy advisor at the Belgian chemical association. Steven holds an MsC in chemical engineering and several post graduates in environmental and safety management.

Follow Steven on LinkedIn.

Marc Vermeulen was appointed to Executive Director of Specialty Chemicals on 20 June 2017. 

Marc, a Belgian national, joined Cefic in 1989 after his studies (Biology). Started providing product specific statistics to the members and developed statistical databases covering European harmonised data on the main economic indicators for the chemical industry. The database was the first and unique tool at that time to compare European economic indicators for the chemical industry. The data served to provide economic outlooks and as well for the creation of the Cefic brochure Facts & Figures. The data set was later on extended to energy data allowing the calculation of the CO₂ emissions of the chemical industry and monitoring the energy market liberalisation.

After having being involved in the Climate Change policy for the chemical industry, joined the Cefic department of the sector groups in 2001. Beside managing several sector groups, consolidated the food & feed cluster and provided the members with a weekly newsletter on regulatory developments. Established the needed contacts with EFSA, DG Sante and Codex Alimentarius. Was appointed in 2007 Director Food Chain and Protective Applications.

Follow Marc on LinkedIn.

Daniel joined Cefic in September 2021 as a secondee from Evonik and assumed the role as Executive Director Innovation.

Daniel has 20 years of professional experience with Evonik incl. several Leadership functions in the area of  Innovation, New Business Development, Controlling and Strategy. Most recently he was Head of Portfolio and Processes at Evonik´s  Research, Development and Innovation Function and thereby responsible for strategic topics of the groups Innovation activities. He has worked in different areas of the chemical industry and has lived in the USA, Singapore and China.

As a global citizen he has a passion for international cooperation and for innovations with a positive impact on the world and people´s life.  Daniel is a member (Vice President) of the Board of the European Industrial Research Association (EIRMA), a member of the Board of the Association of Chemistry and Business (VCW) as part of the German Chemists Association, GDCh and a Visiting Professor on Strategic Innovation Management at the Technical University of Munich Business School of Management.

Daniel holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Münster (Germany) and a Master of Business Administration of the University of Chicago.

Follow Daniel on LinkedIn.