We talk to Valentra’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul Dean to get an insight into his background and his work at Valentra.
Q: What do you do at Valentra, and how long have you been with the business?
Paul: I serve as Chief Operating Officer at Valentra. While Valentra is a new entity, I have worked with the assets now owned by Valentra, and with the team that has supported those assets, for 12 years. It has been rewarding to grow and change with the organization, work alongside so many talented people, and help shape the next chapter of who we are becoming.
Q: Tell us a bit about your academic/working background, and how you got here?
Paul: My career started in the U.S. Navy, where I spent six years serving on a fast-attack nuclear submarine out of Pearl Harbor. That experience shaped a lot of who I am today. It taught me discipline, accountability, teamwork, and the importance of staying calm and focused in high-pressure environments.
After leaving the Navy, I worked in the semiconductor industry at Texas Instruments’ DMO6 fab in Dallas. From there, I had the opportunity to join Cabot Corporation in a leadership role, which opened the door to a long career in chemical manufacturing and operations leadership.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve held a variety of roles across Cabot, Ecolab, Hexion, and now Valentra, including Production Manager, Plant Manager, Regional Director, and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. My highest degree is an MBA, but I would say my most valuable learning has come from the people, teams, and challenges I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career.
Q: What’s particularly great about working at Valentra? What are the aspects of your role that you enjoy the most?
Paul: What I enjoy most about Valentra is the sense of possibility. We are building something together, and everyone has the opportunity to help shape our future. I enjoy seeing associates take ownership, grow in confidence, and feel proud of the improvements they are helping to deliver.
The work can be demanding, and the pace is not always easy, but there is something special about seeing a team push through challenges and deliver results. For me, the most rewarding moments are when people can look back at what they accomplished and know they played a meaningful role in making the company stronger.
Q: What sort of person do you consider yourself to be? Can you give us an example of a challenge you’ve faced, and a success story you’d like to share?
Paul: I consider myself someone who enjoys solving problems, improving processes, and developing people. I like to step back, look at the whole system, understand where the constraints are, and then work with the team to make practical improvements that last.
Throughout my career, I’ve had several opportunities to enter new environments, learn quickly, and help teams create better ways of working. The successes I’m most proud of are not just measured by improved results, but by watching teams become more capable, confident, and aligned. There is nothing more satisfying to me than seeing a well-prepared team execute at a high level and take pride in what they have built together.
Q: What makes you get up for work in the morning?
Paul: What gets me up in the morning is the opportunity in front of us. Valentra has a strong vision, talented people, and the chance to create something lasting. I’m energized by the idea that every associate can help build the company’s future, and I’m grateful to be part of that journey.
Q: If you could sum up Valentra in three words, what would they be?
Paul: Disciplined, dependable, and ambitious.
Q: If you weren’t working at Valentra, do you have a dream job or hobby you’d like to be doing instead?
Paul: I think I would be a teacher. I’ve always enjoyed learning, but I also get a lot of fulfillment from helping others grow and reach their potential. There is something very rewarding about seeing someone build confidence, develop new skills, and realize they are capable of more than they may have thought.
