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Most recently, Keijzer was CEO of France’s Imerys. (Screenshot: Twitter)
Baselland
Clariant has been dealing with an open staff for a long time. The specialty chemicals group will appoint Dutchman Conrad Keijzer as CEO in early 2021.
Most recently, Keijzer was CEO of France’s Imerys. Clariant announced Wednesday that Keijzer could look back on a long and successful career in the chemical industry. After 24 years at the paint and varnish manufacturer AkzoNobel, the 52-year-old moved to Imerys as boss in March 2018.
The decision is also fully supported by the boards of directors of major shareholder Sabic and those of existing Süd-Chemie shareholders, Clariant emphasized in the announcement. There has been recent talk in the media of a disagreement between Clariant and its main Saudi shareholder, Sabic. This has 31.5 percent of the Muttenzern.
Long search
Clariant had been searching for a new CEO since July 2019. At the time, then-CEO Ernesto Occhiello had thrown himself into begging after less than nine months. Occhiello was installed in Clariant by the main Saudi Arabian shareholder. The search for a successor then dragged on due to the crown.
Clariant announced that Conrad Keijzer will become #Clearnew Executive Director as of January 1, 2021.
– Clariant (@clariant) December 9, 2020
Since Occhiello’s departure, Hariolf Kottmann has been wearing his CEO hat on an interim basis, in parallel to his board of directors. Kottmann, now 65, was Clariant’s chief executive officer for ten years until October 2018. Kottmann will retire to his role as chairman of the board of directors in early 2021, Clariant said.
Kottmann is full of praise for his successor: he is an “excellent choice” to lead Clariant to a successful future. And Keijzer himself considers it a “privilege” to become CEO of Clariant.
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