Peter Hemken

Peter Hemken is a retired general manager and former senior executive of the DuPont Company with 35 years of experience in all areas of business development and growth, as well as restructuring and turnaround situations. Since retirement he has focused on advising and investing in start-up companies in Iowa with a focus on biosciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing.

Prior to his retirement from the DuPont Company in 2011, Peter managed strategy and business development programs for the agriculture related businesses of DuPont. Previously he was vice president & general manager of DuPont BioMaterials. Earlier in his career he led the development and growth of multiple DuPont businesses in the Asia-Pacific region for nearly a decade. Upon his return to the United States, Peter led the restructuring of the global industrial nylon business, forming a joint venture with Sabanci Holding of Istanbul, Turkey. He then served many years as CEO of this joint venture, Kordsa Global A.S., the leading supplier of nylon and polyester tire cord yarns and fabrics worldwide.

Peter grew up in a farming family in Hamilton County, Iowa. He graduated with distinction from Iowa State University in 1977 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering and is a 2003 recipient of the ISU Professional Achievement in Engineering Award. He earned an MBA degree from the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond in 1982. Peter has served on the board of directors for the Iowa Power Fund, the Iowa Innovation Council, the Iowa Innovation Corporation, the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator, and the advisory council for the Chemical & Biological Engineering Department at Iowa State University. He currently chairs the board of trustees of the Iowa Automotive Heritage Foundation. Peter is a member of many professional associations, including the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the Angel Capital Association.