Linda Zellner, Director Application Development

Linda’s current role is Director Application Development - Advanced Polymer Solutions. In this role, she leads the development efforts for the business area, working closely with a multidisciplinary team of chemists, lab engineers, specialists, and technical market development managers. Together, they create innovative solutions driven by customer needs and aligned with the segment’s strategic goals to generate new business opportunities. With nearly 15 years at Perstorp, Linda has held various roles within the innovation domain. She began her journey as a Project Manager for Bioplastics and has since progressed into positions with increasing managerial and strategic responsibilities. 

Sustainability is a driving force in Linda’s work. “I’m passionate about developing solutions that make the world safer and better. Chemistry is the key to this transformation. It’s a challenging journey, but with smart, competent colleagues, we are delivering more sustainable innovations to our customers and partners. When we create sustainable solutions or processes that deliver safer, more resource-efficient chemicals, it’s incredibly rewarding.” 

During these interesting, eventful times that we are in, targeting products more downstream and working closer with end applications and customers further down the value chain. The development work involves many aspects from designing the product for the target application, synthesizing it for the first time, determining its properties, collaborate with customers to evaluate the performance and build an opportunity pipeline as well as planning for the first full scale production at a partner or in our own steel. Linda adds that one day is certainly not like the other.  

“There’s a bit of a funny twist to how I ended up at Perstorp. When I graduated with my Master’s in Chemical Engineering from LTH, a lot of my classmates were talking about joining Perstorp. That, for some reason, made me want to explore other paths and see what else was out there. So, I started my career at Electrolux AB, where I held several roles developing materials for vacuum cleaners, small appliances, and various air cleaning solutions. It was a great experience, but over time I realized I missed working more closely with chemistry and chemical processes. Then one day, a friend shared a job posting for a Project Manager role in Bioplastics at Perstorp. Given my passion for chemistry and plastics, I decided to apply—and the rest is history. Fifteen years later, I’m still here, and I can honestly say I’m glad I made that choice. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never say never. Perstorp turned out to be exactly the kind of company I was looking for - even if I didn’t know it at the time."