Brenntag, the market leader in chemical distribution, has appointed Christian Kohlpaintner CEO, effective 1 January 2020. He will succeed Steven Holland, who announced earlier that he would leave Brenntag on that date. Kohlpaintner was until 30 June an executive committee member at Clariant.
Kohlpaintner has held various management positions at multinational companies, including Celanese, Chemische Fabrik Budenheim—where he became CEO—and the former Hoechst. He joined Clariant in 2009 as an executive committee member, based in Switzerland. His most recent responsibilities included Clariant’s business in Asia and he was based in China.
“With Christian Kohlpaintner, we have been able to place as our new CEO an internationally experienced business leader with a proven track record,” says Stefan Zuschke, chairman of Brenntag’s supervisory board. “He has demonstrated impressively that he can lead and develop major business divisions and companies successfully.”
Holland has worked at Brenntag for almost 14 years, more than eight of which as CEO. The company generated 2018 sales of €12.6 billion ($14.8 billion).
By Ian Young
Source: Chemical Week
Elkem ASA (Oslo, Norway) announced the agreement to sell its biocarbon business in Saguenay, Québec in Canada, including the physical pilot and demonstration production facility, and proprietary technology, to CHAR Technologies Ltd. (CHAR Tech). As part of the agreement, CHAR Tech will supply Elkem with 62,500 tons of biocarbon over five years. This follows Elkem’s divestment of the majority of its Silicones business assets.
Ineos Inovyn (London, U.K.) has signed an agreement for the sale of its shares in INOVYN Produzione Italia SpA, which operates the Rosignano and Tavazzano sites in Italy, to Esseco Industrial. The Rosignano and Tavazzano sites in Italy produce essential chemicals that underpin critical sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, water treatment, food, defence and construction.
German chemicals manufacturer Evonik has extended the contract of chief executive officer Christian Kullmann until 2030 following an extraordinary general meeting. The company’s supervisory board also appointed Michael Rauch as its new chief financial officer, effective 1 May.
