14 February, 2025
A new chapter in regional leadership
Markets are shifting. Customer needs are evolving. Sustainability is no longer optional. And strong leadership is the key to meeting these challenges head-on. Frans van Huizen (EMEA), Amy Jenkins (Americas), and Monica Lopez Lorenzo (Japan) are our newest regional managers who bring deep expertise, a customer-first mindset, and a vision for the future. Each of them comes from a unique background, but they share a common goal: empowering teams, fostering innovation, and ensuring that we remain a trusted partner for customers worldwide.
Building stronger partnerships
"If we’re not solving real customer challenges, we’re not doing our job."
Frans van Huizen, Regional President EMEA.
This principle defines our leadership approach. Across the globe, our regional teams prioritize understanding, expertise, and long-term reliability in every customer interaction.
Frans brings decades of experience managing international markets. His background in chemical industry sales taught him that true partnerships go beyond transactions – they require consistency, trust, and strategic alignment. Having worked across Europe, China, and the UK, he knows that supply chain resilience is critical. “The customer comes first. Long-term success depends on reliability, not just product quality,” he says.
Amy’s leadership is grounded in firsthand experience on the factory floor. She worked alongside operations teams, gaining a deep understanding of product performance and supply chain dynamics. This hands-on foundation shapes her customer-driven approach, ensuring practical solutions tailored to real-world challenges. “Strong communication is key,” she explains. “It’s about working together to find the best path forward.”
Monica’s career spans R&D, technical account management, and strategic business development. With a strong technical foundation, she understands how to translate customer needs into actionable innovation. “If we’re not listening, we’re not leading,” she says. Based in Japan, she focuses on digital engagement and market intelligence to ensure proactive decision-making.
"It’s not just about having great materials; it’s about positioning ourselves in markets where we can drive change before the demand even peaks."
Monica Lopez Lorenzo
Regional President Japan
Anticipating industry needs
Adaptability is critical, but forward-thinking leadership means staying ahead of industry trends. Innovation requires early positioning and industry foresight.
For Monica, adaptability is about ensuring we’re positioned as a key enabler in Japan’s energy transition. As the country accelerates investment in offshore wind, technical and regulatory complexities are growing alongside the opportunities. Deep waters, evolving supply chains, and stringent regulations present challenges that require strategic foresight and collaboration.
“We need to ensure our materials don’t just meet today’s requirements but anticipate the needs of tomorrow,” she explains. By engaging closely with industry partners and leveraging market intelligence, Monica ensures we’re playing a proactive role in the solutions that will enable the next phase of renewable energy adoption in Japan.
Frans sees innovation as a way to drive industry-wide transformation. As electric vehicles, aerospace, and protective applications shift toward lighter, more efficient solutions, he is aligning Teijin Aramid’s materials to meet these evolving needs. “Efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand,” he explains. His expertise in sales and market strategy ensures that our solutions remain ahead of industry trends.
Meanwhile, Amy is unlocking new applications for Technora® in high-temperature and chemically resistant environments. “There are many untapped opportunities,” she says. Her technical knowledge and customer insights allow her to identify performance challenges before they escalate, reinforcing our role as strategic partners.
Embedding stustainability
Staying ahead of market trends also means driving sustainability in meaningful ways. For us, sustainability is about aligning long-term business goals with smart material solutions.
Frans is clear: circularity is about redefining how materials are designed, used, and repurposed. With experience in markets where supply chain resilience is a competitive advantage, he understands that sustainability must align with business objectives. “We’re not just recycling; we’re redesigning how materials are repurposed,” he explains. By returning aramid fibers to their original state, Teijin Aramid enables reintegration without compromising performance.
Amy focuses on value-chain collaboration, ensuring that sustainability initiatives benefit both the environment and the bottom line. “We can’t do it alone,” she says. “Sustainability needs to be scalable and commercially viable.” She leads partnerships with suppliers and customers to embed circularity in ways that deliver measurable benefits.
"Sustainability isn’t just about using fewer resources but about creating real value for our customers and the industries we serve."
Frans van Huizen
Regional President EMEA
Enabling expertise
"If we want to stay ahead, we need to work together across regions."
Amy Jenkins, Regional President Americas.
Amy focuses on removing inefficiencies so that teams can work with speed and confidence. “Strong execution comes from preparation,” she says. By streamlining operations and improving internal structures, she ensures that teams are equipped to respond to customer needs and industry demands.
Expertise thrives when teams collaborate effectively. Monica believes that knowledge should flow seamlessly across regions and disciplines, allowing teams to make faster, more informed decisions. By driving cross-regional collaboration, she ensures that insights from one market inform strategies in another.
Frans emphasizes structured flexibility. “Success isn’t about rigid targets – it’s about equipping teams to move fast when opportunities arise,” he explains. His leadership fosters an environment where employees have clear direction but retain the autonomy to execute effectively.
Shaping the future
The challenges ahead are complex, but with strong leadership and a shared commitment to progress, the future is full of possibilities. With the combined expertise of Amy, Monica, and Frans, we’re not just keeping pace with industry shifts but setting the direction for what comes next.
Related news
As partners in a variety of industries that use our aramids in their products, Teijin Aramid actively participates in numerous events and trade shows. Discover more about these, along with updates on our work, here.
