The Danish coating manufacturer Hempel has a temporary dual leadership. The Board of Directors has appointed Peter la Cour Gormsen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Emilie Barriau, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, as joint interim CEOs. The arrangement is effective from June 12.
According to the company, both will assume the role with equal responsibility and decision-making authority. At the same time, they will continue to perform their existing duties within the company. The interim arrangement follows the previously announced resignation of Michael Hansen, who has led Hempel as Group President & CEO since 2022. His last working day is June 11. As HANSA already reported, Hansen is moving to DFDS. He will succeed Torben Carlsen, who stepped down from his position as President and CEO in mid-April.
With the dual leadership, Hempel wants to ensure continuity during the ongoing succession process. According to the company, the search for a new CEO is already underway. The existing management and decision-making structures are to remain unchanged. The Executive Group Management will also continue to work closely together.
Richard Sand, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated that the Supervisory Board has “full confidence” in the joint interim management. Gormsen and Barriau bring complementary strengths and a deep understanding of Hempel’s business and customer solutions.
Hempel, based in Copenhagen, was founded in 1915 and is active as a supplier of paints and coating solutions in the marine, infrastructure, energy and decorative coatings sectors, among others. The majority owner is the Hempel Foundation.
