8. Group Management
8.1. The Executive Steering Committee
The Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. (ESC) replaced the former Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeUntil 30 June 2022, the Executive Committee was mainly responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group strategy, for the financial and operational management of the Group, and for the efficiency of the Group’s structure and organization. Effective 1 July 2022, the Executive Committee was replaced by the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). effective 1 July 2022 and consists of the CEO, the CFO, and three other members, the Business Presidents. The Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. regularly holds meetings at the Corporate Center in Pratteln or at other Clariant sites worldwide. It uses such external meetings to discuss businessperformance with the management of the local companies in person.
8.2. Members of the Executive Steering Committee
The Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. comprised the following members:
8.2.1. Conrad Keijzer, Dutch citizen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Member of the Executive Steering Committee since 1 January 2021
Responsibilities: Group ComplianceComplianceCompliance is a key element of Corporate Governance. It refers to compliance with the law and directives as well as with company codes and ethical business practices and behaviors.; Group Legal; Group Human Resources; Group Communications
Conrad Keijzer graduated from the Twente University of Technology with a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, USA.
Prior to joining Clariant, he was CEO at French listed specialty materials company Imerys, where he set the strategic direction for organic growth and profitability improvement. From 2013 to 2018, Conrad Keijzer was an Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeUntil 30 June 2022, the Executive Committee was mainly responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group strategy, for the financial and operational management of the Group, and for the efficiency of the Group’s structure and organization. Effective 1 July 2022, the Executive Committee was replaced by the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). Member at AkzoNobel and CEO of Performance Coatings, its largest division. Previously at AkzoNobel, he had held leadership roles in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the United States, and Mexico.
Conrad Keijzer was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Clariant as of 1 January 2021.
Other activities: At the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), Conrad Keijzer is a member of the Board and the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeUntil 30 June 2022, the Executive Committee was mainly responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group strategy, for the financial and operational management of the Group, and for the efficiency of the Group’s structure and organization. Effective 1 July 2022, the Executive Committee was replaced by the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). and Chairman of the Nomination Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors at the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
8.2.2. Bill Collins, US citizen
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Member of the Executive Steering Committee since 1 July 2022
Responsibilities: Global Function Information Technology; Global Function Finance; Global Function Mergers & Acquisitions; Global Function Investor Relations; Global Function Internal Audit (jointly with the Chairman of the Audit Committee)
Bill Collins holds an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He has a strong track record in driving performance and large-scale transformation in complex global businesses, including AkzoNobel, Eaton Corporation, and Schneider Electric. In his previous positions, Bill Collins managed relationships with banks, auditors, consultants, and legal advisors. He joins Clariant’s Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. from ENGIE, where he served as the North American Chief Executive Officer as well as CFO. Prior to this, he held the position of ENGIE’s Group Deputy CFO in Paris.
Bill Collins was appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as of 1 July 2022.
8.2.3. Angela Cackovich, German citizen
Member of the Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. and Business President of the two Business Units Additives and Functional Minerals (as of 1 January 2023 renamed: »Business Unit AdsorbentsAdsorbentsUsually solid substances which are able to selectively accumulate certain substances from adjacent gaseous or liquid phases. & Additives«) and the region EMEA since 1 July 2022
Angela Cackovich holds master’s degrees in chemical engineering, business administration, as well as in international finance. Angela Cackovich joins Clariant’s Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. from tesa, where she was a member of the Executive Board. Previously, she held various management positions with P&L responsibility at Henkel, e.g., Head of Global Building & Construction Business, Head of Adhesives Automotive/Aviation Americas, and Head of Adhesives Automotive/Aviation Europe. Prior to this, she gained significant industry experience in a number of leadership positions at Celanese, Rohm & Haas, Dow Corning, and Hoechst.
Angela Cackovich was appointed Business President as of 1 July 2022.
Other activities: Board of Directors/Supervisory Board mandates as set forth in Article 38 para. 1 of the Articles of Association (www.clariant.com/en/Company/Corporate-Governance/Articles-of-Association):
Mandates in listed companies: None.
Mandates in unlisted companies:
Mandates according to Article 38 para. 1 lit. b): One:
- Lehmann & Voss & Co. KG
Mandates according to Article 38 para. 1 lit. c): None.
8.2.4. Jens Cuntze, German citizen
Member of the Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. and Business President of the Business Unit Catalysts (as of 1 January 2023 renamed: »Business Unit Catalysts«) and the region APAC since 1 July 2022
Jens Cuntze studied chemistry and holds a diploma and PhD from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and an MBA. In 1997, he started his career as a consultant and later Associate Principal at McKinsey, with a focus on the chemical industry. In 2003, Jens Cuntze joined Clariant as Head of Strategic Planning Division Life Science & Electronic Chemicals. He then held several management positions in the business and in corporate functions, e.g., as Head of New Business Development Business Unit Custom Synthesis, Head of Corporate Strategy, Head of Business Line Industrial Applications Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties as well as Vice President and Head of Group Procurement. From 2013 until 2018, he held the positions of Vice President and Head of Business Segment Petrochemical Catalysts (former Süd-Chemie business) as well as Board Member of two global joint ventures. Then he served as Head of Corporate Planning & Strategy at Clariant until June 2022.
Jens Cuntze was appointed Business President as of 1 July 2022.
8.2.5. Christian Vang, Danish citizen
Member of the Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. and Business President of the two Business Units Industrial & Consumer Specialties and Oil and Mining Services (as of 1 January 2023 renamed: »Business Unit Care Chemicals«) and the region Americas since 1 July 2022
Christian Vang holds a bachelor’s degree in international business and macroeconomics. He also completed the Executive General Management Program at INSEAD (CEDEP) and holds various executive degrees from institutions such as London Business School, Harvard, and INSEAD. He launched his career at Clariant in 2008 as Head of Region Asia-Pacific for the Pigment & AdditiveAdditiveA substance added to products in small quantities to achieve certain properties or to improve a product. Division based in Singapore. He then became Regional Head of Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties (ICS) based in Shanghai, China, followed by Head of Corporate Planning & Strategy. Before joining Clariant, Christian Vang was Regional Head for Siegwerk Group in Asia-Pacific until 2008. For the 20 years before this, Christian had been assigned by the Hempel Group to various growth regions in EMEA, including Egypt, Eastern Europe, Greece, Malaysia, and Singapore, where he was Group Vice President and Managing Director for Hempel Group in Southeast Asia.
Christian Vang was appointed Business President as of 1 July 2022.
8.2.6. Hans Bohnen, German citizen, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO), Member of the Executive Committee from 12 October 2018 until 30 June 2022
Operational responsibilities: Business Unit Catalysts; Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Business Line Biofuels & Derivatives; Group Procurement Services; Group Operational Excellence; and the regions Latin America and North America.
Hans Bohnen studied chemistry at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, obtained a PhD in chemistry from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and holds an MBA from the Aston Business School. Hans Bohnen began his career in 1995 as a research chemist at Hoechst AG. Between 1995 and 2006, he held several senior positions in research and development and operations across Europe and North America for Hoechst AG, Celanese AG, and SGL Group.
From 2007 until 2009, he worked in strategic management consultancy with Booz Allen Hamilton. In 2010, he became Senior Vice President and Head of Clariant’s Business Unit MasterbatchesMasterbatchesThese are plastic additives in the form of granules with dyestuffs or other additives used to dye or alter the properties of natural plastic.. In 2015, he was appointed Head of Clariant’s Global Business Services to build up Clariant’s internal shared service organization. On 12 October 2018, he was appointed Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeUntil 30 June 2022, the Executive Committee was mainly responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group strategy, for the financial and operational management of the Group, and for the efficiency of the Group’s structure and organization. Effective 1 July 2022, the Executive Committee was replaced by the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). of Clariant.
8.2.7. Bernd Hoegemann, German citizen, Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer, Member of the Executive Committee from 1 November 2019 until 30 June 2022
Operational responsibilities: Business Unit Functional Minerals; Business Unit Additives; Project Clariant 2021; Divestment of Business Unit PigmentsPigmentsPigments are substances used for coloring; they are used in a technical manner, for example in the manufacture of dyes, varnishes, and plastics. In 2020, Clariant launched the divestment process of its Pigments business, which was completed on 3 January 2022.; Corporate Planning & Strategy; Group Innovation & Sustainability; region Asia-Pacific (i.e., India, Southeast Asia & Pacific, Japan, and Greater China).
In 2006, Bernd Hoegemann received his doctorate in economics from the University of Münster, Germany, where he had also completed his master’s degree in psychology. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Hagen, Germany. He began his career as a consultant in 2000 and has held several positions as a senior consultant with renowned companies. In 2008, he joined Clariant, where he was responsible for Senior Management Development. From 2012 until 2017, he headed the Clariant Excellence unit. From 2015 until 2018, Bernd Hoegemann was Head of Corporate Planning & Strategy. He was appointed Head of the Business Unit MasterbatchesMasterbatchesThese are plastic additives in the form of granules with dyestuffs or other additives used to dye or alter the properties of natural plastic. in 2018 and, on 1 November 2019, appointed Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeUntil 30 June 2022, the Executive Committee was mainly responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group strategy, for the financial and operational management of the Group, and for the efficiency of the Group’s structure and organization. Effective 1 July 2022, the Executive Committee was replaced by the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). of Clariant.
8.2.8. Stephan Lynen, German citizen, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO), CFO and Member of the Executive Committee from 1 April 2020 until 30 June 2022
Operational responsibilities: Corporate Accounting; Corporate Controlling; Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions; Corporate Tax; Corporate Treasury; Global Business Services; Group Finance Services; Group Investor Relations; Group Information Technology; and the region Europe, Middle East & Africa.
Stephan Lynen studied business administration at the University of Cologne and economics and finance at University of California, Los Angeles, USA. In 1998, he joined Clariant as a corporate internal auditor and took various leading positions in finance at the company’s headquarters, in Turkey, and in Japan. He led several M&A projects before becoming Head of Group Controlling. From 2013 until 2014, Stephan Lynen was the General Manager of Clariant’s Joint Venture Global Amines Company in Singapore. Starting in 2015, he held the position of Head of Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties for the Asia-Pacific region before assuming the role of global Head of Business Unit Additives in 2016. On 1 April 2020, he was appointed CFO and Member of the Executive CommitteeExecutive CommitteeUntil 30 June 2022, the Executive Committee was mainly responsible for implementing and monitoring the Group strategy, for the financial and operational management of the Group, and for the efficiency of the Group’s structure and organization. Effective 1 July 2022, the Executive Committee was replaced by the Executive Steering Committee (ESC). of Clariant.
Other activities and functions
While the members of the Executive (Steering) Committee may undertake other activities in accordance with Article 38 para. 2 of the Articles of Association (www.clariant.com/en/Company/Corporate-Governance/Articles-of-Association), none of the members of the Executive (Steering) Committee undertake other activities or hold consultancy functions or other offices.
8.3. Management contracts with third parties
There are no management contracts with third parties.
8.4. Contractual arrangements for members of the Executive Steering Committee
All members of the Executive Steering CommitteeExecutive Steering CommitteeThe Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is authorized by the Board of Directors to steer the company. It has overall strategic and financial responsibility, including for our profit and loss statement. The ESC consists of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and the three Business Presidents. hold employment contracts with Clariant International Ltd, the Clariant Group’s management company. The contractual provisions are governed by Swiss law. Contracts of the members of the Executive Steering Committee are subject to a standard notice period of twelve months.