Tan Sri Dr. B.C. Sekhar
Born in Selangor, Malaysia, in 1929, the late Dr. Sekhar is affectionately acknowledged as the father of the modern Malaysian rubber industry. Dr. Sekhar held numerous senior positions in the rubber industry, including his service as the former Chairman of Malaysian Rubber Research Development Board, Rubber Research Institute Malaysia (RRIM), International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRBD), Founder Chairman of the Palm Oil Research and Development Board and Senior Fellow of the Malaysian Academy of Science.
On the international front, Dr. Sekhar, in his capacity as chairman of the International Rubber Research and Development Board, was instrumental in converting the organization into a dynamic institution. The membership increased threefold under his leadership. The IRRDB successfully implemented the expedition into Brazil for collection of new germplasm. The organization also established an international R&D program, three parts of which were financed through UNIDO Member institutes. Dr. Sekhar traveled widely and attended numerous conferences in all parts of the world. His able and effective advocacy of the strength and stability of natural rubber carved a 'niche' for him in the international elastomer industry.
Dr. Sekhar was also the man responsible for the invention of DeLink and Deprotin, two ground-breaking technologies in the elastomer industry which have been significant milestones in eliminating environmental hazards.
An astounding achiever, Dr. Sekhar received nine major awards, 25 patents, 2 honorary doctorates and published 137 research papers. His name is associated with the Standard Malaysian Rubber Scheme, which he initiated in 1964 and is today used worldwide among producers of Natural Rubber and consumers.
Dr. Sekhar died in 2006.
| Career and Appointments |
| Rubber Research Institute Malaysia |
1949 – 1974 |
| Head of Chemistry - Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) |
1964 – 1966 |
| Director - Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) |
1966 – 1974 |
| Chairman - Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) |
1974 – 1984 |
| Chairman - Malaysian Rubber Producers Research Association (MRPRA), United Kingdom |
1974 – 1984 |
| Chairman - Malaysian Rubber Research Development Board |
1974 – 1984 |
| Chairman - International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRBD) |
1974 – 1984 |
| Founder Chairman - Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) |
1978 – 1987 |
| Founder & Board Director - Malaysian Rubber Development Corporation (MARDEC) |
From inception to 1988 |
| Chairman, Malaysian Carbon Sdn Bhd |
1979 – 1988 |
| Chairman, PLAAT Group |
1978 – 1988 |
| Chairman IT International - Tire Manufacturing Group |
1981 – 1983 |
| Secretary General - International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), London |
1988 – 1994 |
| Executive Chairman - STI Global Consult Sdn Bhd & STI-K Polymers Sdn Bhd |
1994 – 1998 |
| Advisor to Green Rubber Global and Chairman of the B.C Sekhar Research Centre (a part of the Green Rubber Group) |
2000 – 2006 |
Dr. Vitaly Kormer
Dr. Vitaly Kormer is the counterpart in Russia of the late Tan Sri Dr. B.C. Sekhar, an expert in synthetic rubber who invented DeLink, a mechanochemical process to de-vulcanize scrap rubber. This process was patented and developed into commercial scale processes at commercially competitive prices delivering industrial relevant solutions in Green Rubber™.