THE WHAT? Clariant has announced the appointment of Conrad Keijzer as the new company CEO, who is set to take over from 1st January, according to Reuters. 

THE DETAILS Keijzer is set to outline a restructuring plan following a year of difficulty, with a decision to be made on the future of the company and whether it remains independent. 

The industry expert held a long-term role at Akzo Nobel before more recently holding the position of CEO of chemicals firm Imerys.

THE WHY? Keijzer joins Clariant as it continues to try and offload its pigments division during a time of uncertainty for the company, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. 

Discussing his appointment, Hariolf Kottmann, Executive Chairman ad interim of Clariant, said, “With his impressive accomplishments in managing large industrial and chemical businesses, his experience in working in different regions, his proven focus on customer needs and his passion for sustainability, Conrad Keijzer is an excellent choice to guide Clariant into a successful future.”