Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers, announces the appointment of Kerstin Artenberg, née Meckler, as Vice President Human Resources (HR) and Communications effective 1 September 2016.
Kerstin Artenberg succeeds Claus Haar, Senior Vice President Human Resources, who will retire as of 31 August 2016.
Kerstin Artenberg has steadily risen through the ranks at Borealis since joining the company as External & Media Relations Manager in 2007. After serving as Borealis Director Communications from 2009 to 2013, she assumed an increasing number of HR-related competence centres. Kerstin Artenberg spent an additional two years as Director Communications & People Development before being promoted in 2015 to her most recent position, Director People Development & Reward and Communications.
A German citizen, Kerstin Artenberg recently earned a master’s degree in Strategic HR Management from the University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich of Switzerland. She also studied East Asian economics at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany and Japanese at Dokkyo University near Tokyo, Japan.
“Kerstin comes to our key HR role from a different discipline. That she has grown into HR in a planned and systematic process makes her the ideal role model for people development at Borealis,” says Mark Garrett, Borealis Chief Executive. “She is a seasoned professional who has been, and will continue to be, integral to Borealis’ success as a corporate communicator. We look forward to seeing her continue to make her mark on our company in this new and expanded capacity, and to take our HR function to the next level.”
“I would also like to thank Claus Haar for his outstanding work over the past eight years,” Mark Garrett continues. “He has been a key player in effecting our transformation from a European-based polyolefins company to a global concern active in Polyolefins, Base Chemicals and Fertilizers. His contributions to shaping HR policy and people development at Borealis are lasting, and highly valued.”
The communications position made vacant by Kerstin Artenberg’s promotion has now been reorganised. Kaatje Caignie, most recently Borealis Internal & Community Communications Manager, has been appointed Head of Communications, reporting to Kerstin Artenberg. The role of Senior External Communications Manager and Corporate Media Spokesperson, reporting to Kaatje Caignie, will be assumed by Patrick Laurays, previously EU Political Communications Manager at Elia Group.
Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. With headquarters in Vienna, Austria, the company currently has around 6,500 employees and operates in over 120 countries. Borealis generated EUR 7.7 billion in sales revenue and a net profit of EUR 988 million in 2015. The International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi owns 64% of the company, the remaining 36% belonging to OMV, an international, integrated oil and gas company based in Vienna. Borealis provides services and products to customers around the world in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
Building on its proprietary Borstar® and Borlink™ technologies and more than 50 years of experience in polyolefins, Borealis and Borouge support key industries with a wide range of applications in the areas of energy, automotive, pipes, consumer products, healthcare, and advanced packaging.
The Borouge 3 plant expansion will make Borouge the world’s largest integrated polyolefins complex. Once fully ramped up in 2016, the additional 2.5 million tonnes of polyolefins capacity will yield a total Borouge capacity of 4.5 million tonnes, and a combined Borealis and Borouge capacity of 8 million tonnes.
Borealis offers a wide range of base chemicals, including melamine, phenol, acetone, ethylene, propylene, butadiene and pygas, servicing a wide range of industries. Borealis also creates real value for the agricultural industry, selling approximately 5 million tonnes of fertilizers. Technical nitrogen and melamine products complement the portfolio with applications ranging from mono-nitrogen oxide (NOx) abatement to glues and laminates in the wood working industry.
Borealis and Borouge aim to proactively benefit society by taking on real societal challenges and offering real solutions. Both companies are committed to the principles of Responsible Care®, an initiative to improve safety performance within the chemical industry, and work to solve the world’s water and sanitation challenges through product innovation and their Water for the World™ programme.
Source: Borealis
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