Massimo Covezzi is senior vice president and head of Research and Development for LyondellBasell, one of the world’s largest olefins, polyolefins, chemicals and refining companies.
Prior to the December 2007 merger of Basell and Lyondell Chemical Company, he was president, Research and Development with Basell Polyolefins.
In 1983, Covezzi began his career working for a chromium salt company before joining Basell predecessor company Himont in 1984. At Himont his early assignments focused on engineering and process development. Covezzi contributed to the commercialization of Spheripol technology in North America.
From 1989 to 1995, he was responsible for the development of Himont’s gas phase technologies and of the commercialization of two plants in the United States at Bayport, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana and one in Yoecheon, South Korea.
In 1995, when Himont became part of the Montell joint venture, he was named core technology director for polyethylene; in 1999 he was assigned the same responsibility for polypropylene. In these roles, he coordinated on a worldwide basis all related R&D activities and programs.
In May 2005, Covezzi was appointed president of Research and Development, based in Frankfurt for Basell Polyolefins. In April 2004, he was named head of Product and Application Development for Basell and R&D site coordinator in Frankfurt, Germany. From 2001 to 2004, he was R&D and catalyst manufacturing site coordinator in Ferrara, Italy and head of Manufacturing Platforms within Basell.
Covezzi studied chemical engineering at the University of Bologna.