People: H.B. Fuller Company (FUL)

Mr. James J. Owens is Senior Vice President, North America of H.B. Fuller Company since Sept. 2, 2008. He spent 22 years with National Starch's adhesives business, a division of ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries Limited) in a variety of management positions. These included corporate vice president and general manager of the North American adhesives business; division vice president and general manager, Europe; business director for the pressure sensitive and laminating adhesives business unit; marketing manager; and technical services manager. He joined Henkel earlier this year, running the North American adhesives business, upon the company's acquisition of National Starch. Owens, who is the upcoming chairman of the Adhesive and Sealant Council, the industry's premier trade association, earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware and a master's in business administration from the Wharton Business School.