Increased hygiene awareness and health consciousness are favorably influencing the disinfectants market, which is projected to reach $2.46 billion globally by 2012.

According to San Jose, CA-based Global Industry Analysts, Inc.’s “Disinfectants: A Global Strategic Business Report,” general public awareness regarding problems associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other infection causing agents has also contributed to market growth.

Demand for disinfectants that sanitize food preparation surfaces is also growing, given the increased risk related to foodborne pathogens and other contaminants.

In response to robust demand, manufacturers have introduced new and advanced products, including specialty disinfectants to satisfy varied needs of consumer and industrial users. Washing powders and liquids modified with disinfectants have also been introduced as a form of value addition to existing products.

The European disinfectants market, largest worldwide, is estimated at $1.13 billion for 2008, according to Global Industry Analysts. The disinfectants market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow fastest, registering a of 4.3 percent over the period 2001-2010.

North America and Europe collectively account for over 80 percent of the world market. In the US, demand for disinfectants in industrial processing is forecasted to record a of 3.8 percent over the period 2001-2010. Global market for disinfectants in pharma & health care industries is projected to reach over $330 million in 2015.

The global marketplace includes participants such as 3M Co, Ecolab, Henkel KGaA, JohnsonDiversey, Kao Corp, Procter and Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, SC Johnson & Son, The Clorox Company, Unilever Plc and Zep Inc.

JohnsonDiversey Inc. has announced the resignation of North American Regional President Tom Gartland, who has decided to pursue a new leadership role in a different industry.

His resignation was effective April 30, 2008.

I appreciate the leadership Tom has provided to our North America Region,” said JohnsonDiversey President and CEO Ed Lonergan. “Tom has led with distinction for the past five years. He brings passion and a sharp customer focus to everything he does, and our company has benefited from his influence.”

Mr. Gartland joined the company as part of the DiverseyLever acquisition in 2002, after working in a variety of capacities in the DL business since 1994. He assumed his current role as regional president in March of 2003.

The company is beginning a broad search for a successor to Mr. Gartland. In the meantime, Mr. Lonergan said he has asked Vice President for Canadian Operations Domenic Rapini to lead the day-today North American operations during the period of the search.

Zep Inc., a distributor of cleaning and facilities maintenance supplies, has appointed Philip Snellen as Vice President of Industrial Distribution.

In November 2007, Zep announced, as part of its strategic, profitable growth initiatives, its plans to enter into the $6.4 billion Industrial Distribution market. Snellen will be directing and managing those efforts.

He joined Zep in early 2007 to head the Industrial Marketing team. Under his leadership, his group developed such new products as the Company’s GreenLink line, which includes products certified by Green Seal, EcoLogo, DfE, and Zep certified environmentally preferred products.

Prior to joining Zep, Snellen filled a variety

of executive positions during 10 years

at Johnson Diversey Inc. His duties at

Johnson Diversey included managing a regional

sales force that called on distributors,

healthcare facilities, building service

contractors, school systems and industrial

accounts. Prior to his tenure with Johnson

Diversey, Mr. Snellen rose in the ranks of

Melbourne, Australia-based, Gibson

Chemical Industries to become Division

Manager.

“Philip is uniquely qualified for this position

since he brings over 20 years of experience

developing, launching and managing

alternate channels of distribution within the

specialty chemical marketplace,” said

William A. Holl, executive VP and Chief

Commercial Officer of Zep Inc. “He has a

deep understanding of the dynamics required

to successfully drive both direct sales

and distributor organizations. As a result, he

has a firm grasp of both the challenges and

opportunities that exist for alternate channels

of distribution for our products.”

Facility managers make up the largest

group of “multi-disciplinary built environment

specialists,” says a sustainability expert

who will be participating in the

European Facility Management Conference

to be held June 10 and 11 in Manchester,

England.

People’s behavior contributes to climate

and environmental protection, but it

is particularly up to those who influence

conditions of living and working: facility

managers. Facility management (FM)

builds the infrastructure of organizations

and is responsible for energy and water

supply, waste management and building

materials of premises and estates.

“The FM profession represents collectively

the largest group of multi-disciplinary

built environment specialists,” says Gordon

Ludlow, sustainability expert at the British

Institute of Facilities Management

(BFIM). FM combines