3M has appointed Dr Ashish K Khandpur as senior vice-president, Research and Development and Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. He replaces Dr Frederick J Palensky, who is retiring after a successful 37-year career with the company.

“Ashish is a highly accomplished and respected leader with a proven track record of success across multiple 3M businesses and geographic regions," said Inge G Thulin, 3M’s chairman, president and CEO.

Dr Khandpur joined 3M in 1995 in the company’s adhesive technology centre in St. Paul. He earned multiple promotions within 3M’s Central Research Laboratories before moving to the company’s Office Supplies Division Laboratory. In 2006, he relocated to 3M India to establish and lead the company’s first local laboratory. He subsequently served as technical director for the Industrial and Transportation Business in Asia Pacific, and in 2012, he was appointed vice president, Research and Development for the worldwide industrial and transportation business. Dr Khandpur’s most recent leadership role was vice-president and general manager for 3M’s Personal Safety Division.

He was born in India and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, specialising in polymers.

“As our chief technology officer, his global experience is a huge asset,” said Thulin, “and I am confident that he will lead our research and development teams to even greater success in the future.”