Dr. Hans Dorfi named executive director of the Polymer Industry Cluster
Akron, OH – The Greater Akron Chamber and Polymer Industry Cluster announces Dr. Hans Dorfi as the Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer of The Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC). Dorfi will assume the role and responsibilities immediately.
In this role, Dorfi will be responsible for leading the work of the Polymer Industry Cluster on behalf of a broad group of industry, education, government and economic development collaborators with a focus on sustainable and advanced polymer solutions that can drive economic growth and employment for Greater Akron and the Northeast Ohio region. Dorfi will be the region’s designated leader to shape a globally influential ecosystem through partnerships, and innovation to guide the cluster’s trajectory, secure funding, and lead initiatives that support R&D, workforce development, sector-wide collaboration and capture the future opportunity of the industry on behalf of Greater Akron.
“From the start, this work has been about convening industry companies and partners to collaborate to create value and scale that we can’t do as individual organizations,” said Steve Millard, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. “Hans is a leader who has the track record to drive this effort forward. The goal for the region is growth to deliver more – more business attraction, more entrepreneurship, more innovation and job creation that leads to more opportunity for everyone that lives and moves here.”
Dorfi brings over two decades of innovation and technology experience in leadership roles in the U.S. and Europe driving large-scale transformation in the polymer, rubber and mobility sectors. Most recently as Senior Vice President at Bridgestone Americas, he led the transformation of the product and technology portfolio, pioneering digital innovation, sustainability, and advanced materials for next generation products.
With his extensive industry expertise, strategic approach, and dedication to the community, the Greater Akron region and its leaders are confident in Mr. Dorfi’s ability to sustain current progress and lead the initiatives within the Polymer Industry Cluster to advance the region’s industry towards global prominence.
“Hans has a track record of collaborating to bring innovations to market, a strategic mindset and a passion to improve our community. He is the ideal inspirational leader to take the Tech Hub forward to the next level and I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him in his new role,” said Mark Smale, Executive Director, Advanced Polymer Science at Bridgestone Americas and Co-Chair of the Polymer Industry Cluster.Dorfi holds advanced engineering degrees from The Ohio State University and Vienna University of Technology and has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Akron and industry advisor to institutions such as Stanford, The Ohio State University and Virginia Tech.
As a long-time resident of Akron, Dorfi is committed to driving economic growth within the region with a global perspective, deep technical knowledge, and a track record of aligning cross-sector partners. His passion for innovation and commercialization makes him uniquely suited to lead PIC’s bold vision for Greater Akron as a global hub for next-generation polymer technologies.