KoSa revamps textiles fibers biz

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 11/26/2001 12:00:00 AM

HOUSTON —

KoSa has restructured its textiles fibers business following the completion of its ownership change earlier this month.

KoSa, a major polyester producer, was formed originally as a 50/50 ownership with Mexican-based IMASAB S.A de C.V and Koch Inds., based here, and now has become fully owned by Koch Inds.

The company will remain separately managed, completely independent of Koch Inds. according to Bill Caffey, KoSa's chairman.

Eduardo Rocha, vp and general manager, textile fibers, has stepped down as the business leader but will remain a senior member on the staff of George Gregory, KoSa's ceo.

In the restructuring, textile fibers will be divided into three distinct business segments: nonwovens, filament and fine denier staple.

The nonwovens segment will join the other specialty industrial fibers in the technical fibers business group headed by Thomas Kehl, vp, general manager, technical fibers.

The filament segment, managed by Mario Fonesca, now reports to Thomas Fahhnemann, vp, general manager, intermediates, polymers and filament.

The fine denier staple segment, now managed by Marco Espinosa, now reports to Carlos Sierra, business director, packaging resins and fine denier staple.

The moves are designed to facilitate the company's goal to be the most profitable polyester company, according to Gregory, by enabling it to "aggressively reduce costs and rethink our business structure."