2025 CME STEM Leadership Award™ Honoring O’Donovan and Spergel

Chemical Marketing & Economics (CME) warmly invites you to a Luncheon and Gala Reception in honor of our 71st Anniversary, taking place in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM. The honorees include the Simons Foundation President David Spergel, who will receive the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for Advancing Fundamental Research, and Arkema Inc. President and CEO Anthony O’Donovan, who will be recognized for Corporate Reinvention.

This signature gathering will spotlight the CME STEM Leadership Awards™, which have honored transformative figures such as Martin Brudermüller (The Mercedes-Benz Group), Ed Breen (DuPont), Henry Kravis (KKR), Daniel D’Aniello (The Carlyle Group), Jon M. Huntsman, Sr. (Huntsman Corp.), Roy Vagelos (Merck & Co.), and seven Nobel Laureates—including Frances Arnold, Carlolyn Bertozzi, Moungi Bawendi and Barry Sharpless, one of only five individuals in history to receive two Nobel Prizes.

Celebrating Visionaries, Empowering the Future

CME is a forward-thinking nonprofit dedicated to advancing diverse talent and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Our mission is to champion sustainable innovation across energy, materials, and life sciences—while connecting trailblazers across sectors.

Through dynamic collaborations with NASA, the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, CME creates transformative experiences that unite Nobel Laureates, industry pioneers, and the public. Our hallmark programs—including the CME STEM Leadership Awards™, CME NASA Symposia, Earth & Space Sustainability Summits, STEM Festivals, and CME PMSE Student & Mentor Awards—ignite bold ideas and foster meaningful cross-sector dialogue.

Ways to Participate

• Sponsor a table and bring guests
• Donate a table to support STEM students
• Make a STEM contribution to help advance our mission

To confirm your participation or explore sponsorship opportunities, please email us at contact(at)cme-stem(dot)org

MORRISTOWN, N.J. and RADNOR, Pa. (October 8, 2025) –Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) and Arkema Inc. today announced that Anthony O’Donovan, president and chief executive officer of Arkema Inc., will receive the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for Corporate Reinvention. O’Donovan and David Spergel, President of the Simons Foundation, honored for Advancing Fundamental Research, will be honored at a gala luncheon on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in New York City.

Arkema Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Arkema S.A., a global leader in specialty materials for a wide range of markets. In 2024, Arkema S.A. reported net sales of €9.5 billion and employed more than 21,000 people globally, leveraging technology and expertise to create value for customers and shareholders.

“Anthony O’Donovan is a transformative leader who has helped to drive Arkema’s vision of shaping a more sustainable world through its portfolio of innovative solutions that create meaningful impact for stakeholders and reshape the industry’s future,” said CME Co-Chair Shah Karim. “O’Donovan, a chemical engineer, is deeply committed to advancing STEM talent and leadership. His sustained focus on innovation and workforce development has been instrumental in Arkema’s recognition by the Top Employer Institute for four consecutive years. This commitment is further reflected in the achievements of Arkema’s team of scientists and engineers who earned the prestigious American Chemical Society Heroes of Chemistry Award for their groundbreaking work on new materials that are transforming the e-mobility market,” noted CME Co-Chair and Legal Counsel Ksenia Takhistova.

“Our exceptional employees are the cornerstone of Arkema’s success, and this award is a reflection of their tireless efforts and innovation,” said Anthony O’Donovan, President and CEO of Arkema Inc. “As we grow and shape the industry, Arkema remains dedicated to STEM talent programs, fostering an innovative, skilled workforce to drive progress and deliver impactful solutions for a better world. I deeply admire the inspiring and engaging CME STEM programs, including the exceptional CME PMSE Student & Mentor Awards in polymeric materials and the exciting CME NASA Symposia in collaboration with ACS and the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, which align closely with Arkema’s mission to advance sustainable innovation and technological excellence.”

Under O’Donovan’s leadership, Arkema actively supports STEM education in the U.S. through its Science Teacher Program, and its sponsorship of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School and the Philadelphia Union Foundation. Each supports educational programs for high-achieving high school students in underserved communities. Arkema also funds multiple scholarships through the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) program.

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About Anthony O’Donovan
Anthony O’Donovan is the President and CEO of Arkema Inc., overseeing operations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and serves as the Regional Head of Arkema Group in North America. Since assuming leadership in November 2021, he has been a leader in driving Arkema’s transformation into a global leader in specialty materials, emphasizing sustainable solutions in adhesives, advanced materials, and coatings. O’Donovan joined Arkema in 2013 as Global Supply Chain Director for Fluorochemicals, later serving as Regional Group President for the Americas Fluorochemicals business. With prior roles at Degussa Specialty Chemicals in South Africa, and FMC in Canada and the U.S., he brings extensive experience in manufacturing, supply chain, and business leadership. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. O’Donovan is a board member of the American Chemistry Council and Chair of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) America.

We invite you to buy a table and bring guests, donate a table to STEM students, or send a STEM contribution. Please send an email to contact@cme-stem.org

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (October 22, 2025) – Chemical Marketing & Economics, Inc. (CME) today announced that Simons Foundation President David Spergel will receive the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for Advancing Fundamental Research. Spergel will be honored at a gala luncheon on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in New York City.

As president of the Simons Foundation, Spergel leads the New York City-based organization in its mission to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Founded in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the private foundation supports transformative science through grantmaking, in-house research and public engagement.

“David Spergel is a transformative leader who has further propelled the Simons Foundation’s mission to push boundaries in fundamental research,” said CME Co-Chair Shah Karim. “An acclaimed astrophysicist and mentor to more than 100 early-career scientists, Spergel has championed sustained investment in basic science. His advocacy for bold questions and knowledge-sharing has boosted the foundation’s impact, driving breakthroughs aligned with CME’s STEM vision,” noted CME Co-Chair and Legal Counsel Ksenia Takhistova.

“Our dedicated scientists and collaborators are the heart of the Simons Foundation’s progress, and this award recognizes their passion for unraveling the universe’s mysteries,” said Spergel. “As we expand frontiers in research and education, the foundation remains committed to nurturing the next generation of STEM talent through grants, fellowships, and programs such as Stony Brook University’s Simons STEM Scholars Program. I greatly admire CME’s dynamic initiatives, including the inspiring CME PMSE Student & Mentor Awards in materials science and groundbreaking CME NASA Symposia with ACS and U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, which echo our shared goal of fueling sustainable innovation and scientific discovery.”

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About David Spergel
David Spergel is president of the Simons Foundation, where, since 2021, he has led efforts to advance research in mathematics and basic sciences. An astrophysicist renowned for his work on the cosmic microwave background and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Spergel previously chaired Princeton University’s astrophysics department and founded the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics. He served as Chair of the NAS Space Study Board and was a member of the NASA Advisory Council. He has received the NASA exceptional public service award and he currently serves on the board of Brookhaven National Laboratory. With over 400 publications, more than 100,000 citations, and an h-index of 120, he has mentored over 32 graduate students, 35 postdoctoral fellows, and 60 undergraduates—many now leading academics worldwide. Spergel’s honors include the MacArthur Fellowship, Shaw Prize, Breakthrough Prize, and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard and a B.A. from Princeton.

About the Simons Foundation
The Simons Foundation is a private foundation in New York City whose mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Founded in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation supports transformative science through grantmaking, in-house research and public engagement. The Simons Foundation provides grants in autism science and neuroscience; life sciences; mathematics and physical sciences; and science, society and culture. The foundation’s in-house research division, the Flatiron Institute, develops and deploys computational methods to advance basic scientific research. To learn more, visit simonsfoundation.org.

We invite you to buy a table and bring guests, donate a table to STEM students, or send a STEM contribution. Please send an email to contact@cme-stem.org

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