Hempel appoints Chief Technology Officer, elevating Innovation in Executive Group Management

Hempel A/S appoints Emilie Barriau as Chief Technology Officer, a new position in the Executive Group Management, bringing a dedicated focus on Innovation

Key messages

• Hempel A/S welcomes Emilie Barriau as Chief Technology Officer to its Executive Group Management. 
• Emilie Barriau is an internationally experienced senior innovation executive who spent 15 years with Henkel Adhesives Technologies and almost 3 years with Ecolab. 
• The new Technology Executive Vice President area comprises R&D, Procurement and Sustainability to serve as mutually reinforcing powerhouses of innovation.

Copenhagen, 11 June 2024: As the next step on Hempel’s growth journey, Hempel welcomes Emilie Barriau as Chief Technology Officer, a new position in the Executive Group Management. Innovation is a critical enabler of Hempel’s Double Impact strategy and this new appointment ensures that innovation is more prominently featured at the highest level of the organisation. The new Technology Executive Vice President area comprises R&D, Procurement and Sustainability to serve as mutually reinforcing powerhouses of innovation. 

Emilie Barriau is an internationally experienced senior innovation executive who spent 15 years with Henkel Adhesives Technologies, serving Transport, Metals and Electronics industries in various global roles. In 2021, Emilie joined Ecolab, where she is leading the Research, Development & Engineering organisation across the different businesses in Europe and IMEA. Emilie is a French native. During her studies and career, she lived in France, UK, USA and Germany, where she is currently based. She holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from University of Mainz, Germany. As part of her tenure with Henkel, she was expatriated to the USA for a 3-year period. Over the coming months, Emilie will relocate to Denmark. 

“This shift reflects our commitment to staying ahead of the curve and delivering unparalleled value to our customers,” says Michael Hansen, Group President & CEO. “By elevating the role of innovation in our executive leadership, we aim to foster a culture where creative thinking and groundbreaking ideas thrive, ultimately propelling us towards delivering on our strategy, particularly within technology and sustainability leadership.” 

“I am very excited to welcome Emilie to Hempel,” continues Michael Hansen. “With her ability to connect with others, as well as her strong business acumen and unwavering customer focus, I believe she is a great fit for Hempel.”

“I am excited to join Hempel as Chief Technology Officer to elevate the mission of innovation in the organisation, uniting R&D, Sustainability and Procurement to accelerate our path to impactful sustainable solutions, together with our customers, suppliers and partners,” says Emilie Barriau, incoming Chief Technology Officer at Hempel A/S. “Unleashing this potential, I see great opportunities for Hempel’s innovation to create greater value and lead with differentiated technologies, not only for our customers, but also for the coatings industry as a whole. Ultimately, our investment in this area will make for a more sustainable world.” 

Joanna Ashmead
Head of Media Relations
Tel: +45 30772816
Email: communications@hempel.com

About Hempel

As a world-leading supplier of trusted coating solutions, Hempel is a global company with strong values, working with customers in the decorative, marine, infrastructure and energy industries. Hempel factories, R&D centres and stock points are established in every region.

Across the globe, Hempel’s paints and coatings can be found in almost every country of the world. They protect and beautify buildings, infrastructure and other assets, and play an essential role in our customers’ businesses. They help minimise maintenance costs, improve aesthetics and increase energy efficiency.

At Hempel, our purpose is to shape a brighter future with sustainable coating solutions. We firmly believe that we will succeed as a business only if we place sustainability at our heart. Not only is it the right thing to do, it will strengthen our competitive position, make ourselves more resilient and reduce our risk.

Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915. It is proudly owned by the Hempel Foundation, which ensures a solid economic base for the Hempel Group and supports cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific purposes around the world. www.hempel.com