Malmö, Sweden – Ib Jensen is to replace Jan Secher as CEO of specialty chemicals company Perstorp. The Malmö-based business was acquired last year by Malaysia’s Petronas Chemicals Group (PCG). Secher is to step down on 1 March, 2023, after nine years as CEO of Perstorp Group. He will remain in an advisory role with the company.
Secher informed the company of his intention to step down a year ago – before the PCG acquisition – to enable it to have a thorough search for his replacement. The person selected for the role, Jensen, who has been Perstorp’s CFO for the last year, has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, and managing the integration of acquired business units. Previously Jensen has held executive roles at Arxada, Danisco, Lego, Lonza, and Syngenta.
Jensen said of his promotion: “It is an honour to take over as CEO from Jan Secher and I look forward to lead Perstorp in this new exciting phase. With PCG as the new owners, their commitment and the support from the strong executive leadership team, I feel confident about a successful time ahead of us.”
Secher said: “I have had the pleasure to lead Perstorp through an exciting transformation, which has formed the company to what we are today: a sustainability frontrunner with a growing share of specialty chemicals in the portfolio.
“The company is entering a new chapter in its more than 140 year history and with PCG as our owner, a series of opportunities are opening well beyond what we have seen in the past. It serves as the perfect timing to hand over the reins to a most capable leader.”
PCG’s CEO and managing director, Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ib, as the new CEO of Perstorp. He is an experienced executive leader, with a strong and deep understanding of the specialty chemicals industry on top of a solid track record in business optimisation and financial management. He plays a key leadership role in the integration of Perstorp into the PCG family, while ensuring that Perstorp’s business is uninterrupted.
“I also would like to put on record my appreciation and gratitude to Jan for his contribution for the past nine years. As the CEO, he led the company through challenging times, which required innovative solutions and decisions and has been instrumental to Perstorp’s achievements and growth in the specialty business. More importantly, he helped to steer the company to play a pioneering role in sustainability particularly in the development of pro-environment solutions for its customers.”
Deputy CFO, Monica Jönsson, will assume the CFO role made vacant by Jensen’s promotion.
