After 23 years of service, John Kerr, Vice President of Research & Technology, is set to begin his well-earned retirement. Throughout his tenure, John’s innovations, leadership and innumerable contributions have added tremendous value to our business, making us more efficient and sustainable and positioning ASR Group for the future.
John received his doctorate in Chemistry from Oxford University and began his career in the petrochemical industry before joining Tate & Lyle, PLC in 2001. He honed his expertise as a Development Chemist and then Senior Chemist before becoming manager of the Research & Technology team. In 2009, John became Head of Tate & Lyle Process Technology, the company’s engineering arm. He returned to the Research & Technology team in 2013.
John has always been passionate about converting knowledge and concepts into commercially successful solutions. His work leaves an enduring impact across the organization, and his impressive career is marked by significant achievements, including multiple inventions and patents. Among his many contributions, John and his team pioneered new processes and technologies to increase efficiencies, drive savings and add value across our business while helping us advance on our journey to decarbonization.
"It's quite rare to find someone who blends chemistry skills and an engineering mindset as effectively as John," said Ian St. John, Sr. Vice President of Projects and Business Optimization, Europe. “He has a strong creative streak, applying his scientific, logical approach to every aspect of his work, and he is determined to see things through to completion. On top of it all, he’s just a really nice guy."
Much of John’s work has centered around our value-added products. His team has worked to understand the science behind the taste and flavor of many of our key products using advanced analytical techniques, and they developed a special technology to create a new value-added co-product. Additionally, John and his team revolutionized the use of calcium carbonate, a co-product of the refining process, so it could be used in value-added products such as bricks, fiber boards and even components for luxury cars.
John’s work with calcium carbonate demonstrates his passion for uncovering hidden value in every process and minimizing waste. His extensive work on energy efficiency, carbon capture and water reuse initiatives also underscore his commitment to operational efficiency and sustainability.
One of John’s favorite sayings is, "One foot in the present and one in the future," a mantra that perfectly encapsulates his forward-thinking approach, emphasizing the significance of making an impact today while paving the way for a sustainable tomorrow – while always making sure we continuously learn from past experiences.
“From his work on our value-added products to initiatives to make us more efficient and sustainable, John’s innovations highlight his ability to push the boundaries of what we thought was possible, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of our industry,” said Vice President of Operations Kelly DeAngelo.
"We are very fortunate for John's contributions, intellect and leadership, which have significantly strengthened our organization," said Mickey Seither, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Planning. "His passion for innovation has inspired colleagues across the business. The time I spent with John over the years, often engaging in intellectually challenging discussions about technical topics and leadership, was incredibly valuable to me. Those conversations pushed me to think differently and have made me a better engineer and a better leader."
John is widely recognized for his dedication to developing talent within the company, including through ASR Group University and Sugar School for Non-Refiners. John and his team have worked extensively with different universities, and John served as the President of the Sugar Industry Technologists (SIT).
“It was a great pleasure working with John as a member of the SIT Executive Committee for the past five years,” said Michael Burchell, Sr. Director, Global Corporate Quality. “Just as he brought improvement to our refineries, he also drove change and improvement within SIT in his roles as Vice President (2019-2022), President (2023) and Immediate Past President (2024).”
Mentorship has been a meaningful part of John's career, and he has greatly enjoyed the opportunity to guide and inspire the next generation of innovators.
“I started with the company in 2013 in the Graduate Development Program (GDP) on the Process team before moving to Research & Technology in 2018,” said Clara Aymerich, Director of Research & Technology. “John believes in helping people reach their full potential, and over the years, he has significantly supported my career development, encouraging me to pursue my MBA and broadening my business perspective. John’s mentorship and support have meant a lot to me, and they have helped me grow professionally.”
John's approach to leadership and team building has fostered a culture of collaboration. He is renowned for his ability to harness the collective strengths of his team to drive success and continuous improvement.
John often quotes the well-known saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This philosophy has helped drive teamwork within the Research & Technology team and promoted cross-functional and cross-geographic collaboration throughout the business, significantly strengthening our talent and culture on a global scale.
"It's crucial to encourage and acknowledge everyone's contributions, as value-adding innovation comes from everyone in our organization – not just from someone wearing a lab coat,” said John.
"My coworkers and the connections I’ve made are some of the highlights of my career and what I’ll miss most,” he added. “I’ll also truly miss the technical challenges and diverse perspectives that constantly pushed me to grow. It’s been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with so many talented colleagues across the organization, and I am confident that the company will continue to be at the forefront of innovation and sustainability thanks to their talent and dedication."
As we wish John the best in retirement, his legacy will live on through the technologies he advanced, the knowledge he shared and the innovative culture he helped shape.