Richard White

Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO
Avantor

Richard White serves as Avantor's Chief Operating Officer and interim CEO.  He joined the company in 2012 as executive vice president of operations, directing the company’s global efforts in manufacturing, logistics/supply chain, quality, procurement and EHS&S (environment, health, safety and security).

Prior to joining Avantor, White was chief operating officer for the Solar division at STR Holdings, where he was responsible for global operations, quality, health and safety, supply chain, sales, and engineering for the U.S., Europe, Malaysia and China.

White previously served as vice president of manufacturing and supply chain at Vertellus Specialties, a global specialty chemical company. While at Vertellus, he was responsible for developing and implementing manufacturing and supply chain initiatives to support the U.S., Europe, India and China. His achievements at Vertellus included improving safety performance, implementing lean manufacturing, integrating corporate acquisitions, and institutionalizing Quality Assurance/Quality Control policies.

In his career, White also has held leadership positions in operations at Celanese Corporation, Honeywell International and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Mississippi State University.