Roberts joins LyondellBasell in Houston

Resin industry veteran Tim Roberts has taken the reins in the Americas for LyondellBasell Industries AF SCA, the region's largest maker of polyethylene and polypropylene.

Roberts now is senior vice president of olefins and polyoelfins for the Americas for LyondellBasell, which is based in Rotterdam. In that role, he’ll be based in Houston.

Prior to joining LyondellBasell, Roberts was vice president of planning and development in Houston for materials firm Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP. He has more than 20 years of industry experience, including a stint as president and CEO of Americas Styrenics LLC, the styrenics joint venture between Chevron Phillips and Dow Chemical Co.

LyondellBasell ranks as one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals and refining firms. The company posted sales of more than $41 billion in 2010 — up 33 percent vs. the prior year. LyondellBasell also showed a 2010 profit of almost $10.2 billion after losing almost $3 billion in 2010.

On Wall Street, LyondellBasell's per-share stock price began 2011 around $35. It peaked near $46 in early May, but had receded to less than $39 in late trading June 6.