About Henry Maso
Henry Maso first joined the SCC in 1957, when he was hired away from Johnson & Johnson’s Pharmaceutical Research Laboratory to serve as Director of Technical Services for Amerchol Corporation. In that capacity, and later as a Vice President and Senior Vice President until his retirement in 1986, he traveled extensively, particularly in Western Europe and the Far East, teaching his company’s clients how to use its hypoallergenic lanolin derivatives and other cosmetics and personal care products.
An active participant in the SCC, he served as Chair of its New York chapter in 1963 and as National President in 1967. He was awarded the Society’s Medal Award in 1971. In 1978 he was elected to the Praesidium of the IFSCC, and in 1983, he was elected IFSCC President. In 1982, he was one of the first cosmetic chemists to enter mainland China. Following his retirement from Amerchol in 1986, he formed H.F. Maso Associates and continued to work as a consultant to the cosmetic industry, and as a volunteer with the International Executive Service Corps in Thailand and Panama. He returned to China in 1986 and 1992 at the invitation of its government to continue his lecturing. He also lectured for the SCC and organized courses in cosmetic technology for the Center for Professional Advancement.
Since his death in 2009, the SCC has presented, at its annual Scientific Meeting, the Henry Maso Keynote Lecture Award, consisting of a certificate plaque and honorarium, to a speaker selected by the Committee on Scientific Affairs.
In addition, the IFSCC awards a Henry Maso Award for Young Scientists at the IFSCC Congress every two years, to the author of the best paper published in the IFSCC Magazine during the preceding two year period.