Management

Richard Schwarz joined NineSigma in 2004 as Chairman of the Board. Richard Schwarz is a partner in Sycamore Partners LLC, an early stage venture capital firm. Prior to Sycamore Partners, Richard was President and CEO of Laurel Industries, Inc., a privately held chemical manufacturer acquired by Occidental Petroleum Corporation in 1996. Richard is a Director of Associated Estates Realty Corp. (NYSE:AEC) and recently chaired the Visiting Committee at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Ohio.

Schwarz received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from The Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.

Paul Stiros joined NineSigma as President and CEO in September 2004. Stiros came to NineSigma from Procter & Gamble where he spent his career and held a number of positions of increasing responsibility in Research and Development in the Fabric and Home Care division. Most recently, Stiros was Director Corporate Function R&D in P&G’s Corporate Innovation and Knowledge group where he worked with service providers in the area of open innovation. Prior to that, Stiros had global R&D responsibility for new business development for the Fabric and Home Care where, among other projects, he was involved with the launch of the Swiffer® dry duster and Swiffer® Wet Jet business. In addition, he was responsible for the Fabric and Home Care global business unit’s licensing and business development effort, with direct P&L responsibility. Stiros holds a number of patents.

Stiros received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University and a master’s of science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Frans van Hoof joined NineSigma in February 2007. He brings to the company a wealth of experience in IT, operations, professional service, delivery and strategy. Prior to joining NineSigma, he was an independent management consultant and served as CIO for Wind River Systems. Previously he was Vice President of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in Houston and Cleveland. Van Hoof launched several new initiatives in well established divisions with international business including one which he grew to over 250 in staff and $90 million in revenues. He was part of a global practice management team that was responsible for development and implementation of methodologies, risk management and customer satisfaction. He has developed business and managed projects in several countries. Prior to Cap Gemini Ernst & Young he was Vice President of Cap Volmac in the Netherlands and responsible for international sales and delivery of complex IT solutions for the Chemical industry. He developed several international partnerships to increase international delivery capabilities. After studying Computer Science and Chemical Process Technology at the HTS in the Netherlands van Hoof attended the Cap Gemini International Business School in conjunction with The London Business School, and INSEAD.

Akihiko Suwa helped launch NineSigma Japan, a subsidiary of NineSigma, Inc., in 2006. Prior to joining NineSigma, Suwa was a Senior Consultant with the Research and Consulting Division of The Japan Research Institute, Ltd. There he developed an alliance with NineSigma and the Battelle Memorial Institute. He conducted numerous NineSigma projects for world-class Japanese companies primarily focusing on technology in-sourcing and new business development. Prior to The Japan Research Institute, Suwa was an Associate with McKinsey & Company Inc. in Japan where he conducted projects in automotive, energy, pharmaceutical, information technology, and other focus areas. He holds a B.S. degree in Applied Physics from Northeastern University and an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Andreas M. (Andy) Zynga, CEO Europe